KPU: Election Law Allows President To Participate In Campaign

JAKARTA - KPU member Idham Holik said the Election Law allowed the president and minister to participate in the campaign.

"The Election Law, especially article 281 paragraph 1 allows the president, vice president, ministers, governors, deputy governors, regents of deputy regents, mayors and deputy mayors to participate in campaign activities," said Idham as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, January 24.

Article 281 paragraph (1) of Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning General Elections (UU Pemilu) reads, "The Election Campaign that includes the President, Vice President, ministers, governors, deputy governors, regents, deputy regents, mayors, and deputy mayors must meet the provisions: a. do not use facilities in their positions, except for security facilities for state officials as stipulated in the provisions of the legislation".

However, the regulation prohibits presidents and ministers from using state facilities. In addition, he said that the president and minister are also required to take leave if they are going to campaign.

"Normah tersebut mengatur dengan persyaratan konal. Sebagaimana diatur, di persyaratan tersebut tidak menggunakan fasilitas dalam jabatannya," katanya.

Meanwhile, security facilities, continued Idham, may be used by the president and minister. The reason is, the Election Law provides exceptions to security facilities.

"Except for security facilities for state officials as regulated in statutory regulations and undergoing leave," added Idham.

He was reluctant to comment further regarding concerns about conflicts of interest if the president joined the campaign. Idham emphasized that the KPU is only an institution that organizes elections.

"Our capacity as election organizers is only limited to the level of submission related to the norms in the Election Law," he said.

Previously, President Jokowi stated that the president and minister had democratic and political rights that allowed them to participate in the election campaign as long as they did not use state facilities.

Jokowi said this was in response to a number of ministers of the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet who entered as a successful team to support the presidential and vice presidential candidate pairs participating in the 2024 presidential election.

"The rights of democracy, political rights, everyone. Every minister is the same, the most important thing is that the president can campaign, you can take sides. Yes," said Jokowi at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, Jakarta (24/1).

However, Jokowi has not decided to take the opportunity to campaign to support one of the pairs of candidates in the 2024 presidential election. "Yes, we will see," said Jokowi.