Bawaslu: President Prabowo Does Not Violate Regional Election Campaign Rules

Chairman of Bawaslu Rahmat Bagja said President Prabowo Subianto did not violate the campaign regulations regarding a short video when inviting Central Java (Central Java) residents to support candidate pair number 2 Ahmad Luthfi-Taj Yasin in the 2024 Simultaneous Pilkada.

Bagja revealed that there were no alleged election violations in the video, both in terms of administrative violations and election crimes.

"Legally, the President can in election campaigns based on the provisions of Article 70 Paragraph 2 of the Law on Election in conjunction with Constitutional Court Decision Number 52 /PUU-XXII/2024 and PP 32/2018, but the provisions regarding campaign leave or conditions for participating in the campaign do not apply because video creation is carried out on Sunday, November 3, 2024 or on holidays," said Rahmat as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, November 20.

Bawaslu revealed, the video uploaded by the Instagram account @ahmadluthfi_official does have the contents of the election campaign.

However, the uploading of the video was carried out on November 9, 2024 or during the span of the election campaign schedule through social media, from September 25 to November 23, 2024, so that based on time it did not violate the provisions.

In tracing the case, Bawaslu has taken a number of steps, including observing related news, as well as the Instagram account concerned.

Then, check the KPU Campaign Information System and Campaign Fund (SIKADEKA), ask for information from the Central Java Provincial KPU, and listen to opinions from a number of experts related to electoralism.

"We also asked for information from the Candidate for Governor of Central Java Ahmad Luthfi on Monday, November 18," he said.

Bawaslu's search refers to the Constitutional Court's Decision Number 52 of 2024, which allows state officials, including the president, to participate in campaigns with certain conditions.

These requirements include not using position facilities, except security, and taking leave outside the state's responsibility.

If in the search it is found that there are allegations of violations, Bawaslu will follow up according to the procedure. However, if there are no violations, the search results will be used as a surveillance report.