Anies Finally Supports Pramono-Rano, PDIP: The Backflow Of The Resistance Against Democracy

Secretary General of the PDI-P (PDIP) Hasto Kristiyanto opened his voice on the support of former DKI Governor Anies Baswedan to the candidate pair for Governor-Deputy Governor of Jakarta Pramono Anung-Rano Karno, which is now being revealed.

Hasto said that PDIP communicated intensely with Anies after the 2024 presidential election period until the implementation of the current 2024 regional election campaign. PDIP and Anies both saw efforts to damage the democratic process.

"When intimidating practices are allowed, the practice of using the country's resources is allowed, which creates unfair competition. Even then the oppression in the democratic system by certain people, certain families, then this creates a backflow of resistance. So, that's the communication we made with Mas Anies Baswedan," said Hasto at the PDIP DPP Office, Central Jakarta, Wednesday, November 20.

Hasto emphasized that both PDIP and Anies faced the same problem. They assess that Indonesian democracy is now facing popular-faced authoritarianism. Thus, Hasto revealed that his party did not want to allow the practice of unfair democratic competition.

"That's why this collaboration will continue to be carried out and this is part of the backflow when so many elements of society respond to save democracy," said Hasto.

On the one hand, Hasto also appreciated the support given by Anies volunteers, including "Abah's son" to the candidate couple promoted by PDIP. Hasto concluded that this was a joint populist movement.

"We also express our gratitude for the support from volunteers, in Jakarta, in particular the support of Abah's son. This reflects that we are facing a force that is anti-democracy, which wants to deny that our country is in the form of a republic, not a kingdom, in practice," he explained.

In this regard, PDIP General Chair Megawati Soekarnoputri admitted that she received many reports related to the neutrality of state officials in the 2024 Simultaneous Regional Head Elections. The officers even forced their forces to roll out money politics to the public to choose a certain pair of candidates for regional heads.

In fact, all parties know this violates statutory regulations. This was revealed by Megawati through a video that was played at the PDIP DPP Office, Menteng, Central Jakarta.

"I heard so many reports against state institutions that are not neutral. They force certain pairs of candidates with various intimidation and at the same time the lure of free basic necessities, even money. They are all part of money politics," said Megawati.

The 5th President of the Republic of Indonesia emphasized that the Constitutional Court (MK) has issued a decision number 136/PUU-XXII/2024 which changes the phrase pepper article 188 of Law Number 1 of 2018.

The ruling reads "every state official, regional official, ASN official, TNI-Polri member, and village head or other designation/lurah who deliberately violates the provisions as referred to in Article 71, shall be punished with imprisonment for a minimum of 1 month or a maximum of 6 months and/or a fine of at least Rp600 thousand or a maximum of Rp6 million".

"Remember that the Constitutional Court has made a very important decision that non-neutral state officials can be subject to criminal sanctions," said Megawati.