Competition For The 2024 Presidential Election, Jokowi: Don't Get Over Eating Together But Under The Ribut

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo said the agenda for lunch with the presidential candidates some time ago was aimed at giving a message that the nation's candidates must stay in harmony even though they will compete fiercely in the 2024 election.

"Don't let the ones above eat together, (but) those below, in the regions, are still making a fuss. This is what we need to protect together," said President Jokowi at the National Coordination Meeting for Election Organizers, quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, August 8.

Jokowi said democracy teaches the Indonesian people that competition and differences in choice in elections are natural. However, he stressed, the harmony of the nation must be maintained and must not be sacrificed.

"We must maintain the conduciveness of the nation, we must maintain security stability together," he said.

According to Jokowi, democracy in Indonesia is currently of high quality. The Indonesian people are also considered to be more wise in choosing and becoming more mature in their attitude.

"Because elections are the people's side, the populist should be happy, that should be. People in parties have joys, not worries, not unrest, not unrest that comes; but joy and joy," he explained.

Therefore, Jokowi invites all parties to make joint efforts so that the 2024 General Election can become a consolidation event that produces tactical and solution ideas for the progress of the Indonesian nation.

"We must make every effort together with high hopes that this election can truly become a consolidation event," said Jokowi.

The General Election Commission (KPU) of the Republic of Indonesia has received registration for three presidential and vice presidential pairs for the 2024 presidential election, namely Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar, Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD, and Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

The Anies-Muhaimin pair was promoted by the NasDem Party, the National Awakening Party (PKB), the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), and the Ummah Party.

The Ganjar-Mahfud pair was promoted by the DPI Perjuangan, the United Development Party (PPP), the Perindo Party, and the People's Conscience Party (Hanura).

Meanwhile, the Prabowo-Gibran pair were promoted by the Gerindra Party, the Golkar Party, the National Mandate Party (PAN), the Democratic Party, the Crescent Star Party (PBB), the Gelora Party, the Garuda Party, and the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), and the People's Fair and Prosperous Party (Prima) who did not qualify to participate in the 2024 General Election.

The Indonesian KPU has set an election campaign period from November 28, 2023 to February 10, 2024, while the vote is scheduled for February 14, 2024.