President Jokowi Asks For 2024 Election Simulations To Be Set, Mahfud MD: Don't Be Influenced By Issues Including Amendments

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) asked the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD to immediately set a simulation date for the 2024 General Election and Regional Head Election (Pilkada).

This was conveyed by Mahfud after holding a follow-up coordination meeting simulating the 2024 presidential, legislative and regional head elections simultaneously. This meeting was held with the Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Tito Karnavian and other related institutions on Thursday, September 23.

"The president has instructed to immediately set a simulation date for the General Election and Pilkada in 2024," Mahfud said in a written statement quoted on Friday, September 24.

He also said that President Jokowi asked all parties not to be influenced by other issues such as amendments, extensions of office, and so on. "The point is to set an appropriate election date in accordance with the law where we agree that according to the law the legislative and presidential elections are in 2024," said the former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court (MK).

Furthermore, Mahfud emphasized that together with the Minister of Home Affairs, Tito, they would immediately discuss the determination of the election simulation with the DPR RI, the General Elections Commission (KPU) and the General Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu), as well as other related institutions.

Moreover, he said that the Minister of Home Affairs had simulated with the Indonesian House of Representatives on September 16 and the simulation was also carried out at the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs the day after or September 17.

"It was all in September and the last one on September 23 was also simulated again so that the options came to fruition," said Mahfud.

He then explained that currently there are several date options that have begun to be sharpened along with the technical and juridical problems that accompany them. One of the implementation options that emerged was April 24, in addition to three other date options which will later be submitted to President Jokowi.

"Regarding the election option if it is held on April 24, then citizens or groups of citizens who want to establish a political party that can participate in the elections for 2024, must have a legal entity no later than October 21 this year," Mahfud explained.

He will also later convey all the problems or advantages and disadvantages to the president on those dates for consideration.

"It is the President who will decide on these options through a limited cabinet meeting, but we will later discuss all the problems or advantages and disadvantages of each date that will be determined by the president together with the DPR and KPU," concluded Mahfud.