Megawati's Breakthrough: The Opponent Of The Terms Of Presidential Candidates Must Be A Bachelor

Megawati-Prabowo Declaration At Bantar Gebang TPA, Bekasi, West Java For The 2009 Presidential Election. (ANTARA/Prasetyo Utomo)

JAKARTA - The education range for a presidential candidate is often considered important. This condition made the government of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) roll out the discourse of changing the requirements for presidential candidate education. Initially, the requirements for presidential candidate education were only high school or equivalent.

The government tried to turn it into a minimum of one or undergraduate. This desire then received opposition from everywhere. Megawati Soekarnoputri became the most opposed figure. The former President of Indonesia considers academic education not a determinant, but the voice of the people.

Efforts to choose the nation's leaders should not be arbitrary. Prospective leaders who will later participate in political contestation must have qualified experience. His political experience is hoarding. Education must also be high.

This condition is because once people choose the wrong leader, they can suffer for five years. The policies that roll out are not pro-people. The life of the people never increases. This condition made the SBY government roll out a discourse to change the educational requirements for the presidential candidate.

Empunya kuasa lewat Kementerian Dalam Negeri (Kemendagri) mencogodok syarat yang tadinya hanya lulusan SMA berubah jadi wajib luluswa. Pendidikan tinggi dianggap jadi an element penting yang harus dimiliki calon pemimpin bangsa pada awal 2007.

The Ministry of Home Affairs also seeks this through the latest Draft Law (RUU) regarding the Presidential and Vice Presidential Elections. A bill that is considered to replace Law Number 23 of 2023 concerning the Presidential and Vice Presidential Elections.

The issue of limiting the requirements for presidential candidates from high school to at least undergraduates raises pros and cons. Those who pros believe that a bachelor's degree is needed to become a leader of the nation. This condition is because managing the country requires high education and understanding.

Those who reject change consider education not the only determinant of a great leader. They consider experience to be the most important thing. Take for example the Secretary General of the National Mandate Party, Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas).

He has no problem with the leader of the nation, only high school graduates. Zulhas considers that the most important thing is that the leader has a spirit to fix the nation in the future. PDIP also does not want to lose. The party bearing the white-nosed bull symbol considers education not a good determinant of whether or not the presidential candidate is good.

"PDIP is like that. Academic abilities are not decisive. Theory is important as a basis, but the ability to improvise is even more important in leadership. And most importantly, it has a close relationship with the people. What exists today is that it does not side with the small people and only accommodates the interests of the upper class," said PDIP Secretary General Jacobus Majong Padang as quoted by the Tempo Daily entitled Candidate for President. Enough High School Graduates (2007).

The polemic of the Presidential and Vice Presidential Election Bill continues. The government's issue of tackling Megawati Soekarnoputri's steps to nominate herself as a presidential candidate surfaced. The SBY government is considered not to want the 5th President of Indonesia to participate in the 2009 presidential election.

Megawati does have a Doctorate Honoris Causa bejibun. However, her official education is only high school. He did study at Padjadjaran University, but was tackled by the New Order (Orba). Megawati also considered the government's move unreasonable.

He considers the discourse of at least undergraduate presidential candidates as an excessive step. Megawati is the same as her party's statement, PDIP, which considers the people as the main determinant of the presidential candidate. Alias, the people who make the choice to support any presidential candidate without having to look at educational background.

President SBY responded to criticism. He himself denies being involved in rolling out the discourse that presidential candidates must be undergraduate. SBY admitted that he never had any intention to interfere with democracy and prevent others from participating in the 2009 presidential election.

The Ministry of Home Affairs also admitted that the discourse emerged as a study of the Ministry of Home Affairs' Working Group level. The draft could change in a cabinet meeting. The Ministry of Home Affairs did not expect the criticism and criticism of the people to rise.

As a result, the Ministry of Home Affairs decided that the educational requirements for candidacy for presidential candidates were returned to the old rules, Law Number 23 of 2003. The education rules for high school or equivalent candidates apply. Megawati can also participate in the presidential election, even if she loses.

"Certainly journalists want to ask questions about the Presidential Election Bill. My answer is easy. It's up to the people who choose. Now it's good direct elections. In the past it could still be engineered. Now it can still be engineered, but a little," Megawati said as quoted on the website.com, March 16, 2007.