Government Denies Pushing Three-Term President Discourse in Today's Memorial, March 7, 2022

The action to reject the discourse on postponing the 2024 election and extending the president's term in Makassar, South Sulawesi, Friday (8/4/2022) (ANTARA FOTO/Arnas Padda)

JAKARTA - Today's memory, four years ago, March 7, 2022, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs (Menkopolhukam), Mahfud MD denied that the government encouraged the discourse on the presidential post for three terms. Mahfud also revealed that the 2024 election would be held on time.

Previously, the COVID-19 pandemic had a major influence in the Indonesian political arena. The proposal to postpone the 2024 election and the three-term presidential post was tried to be advanced. A narrative that invited criticism and condemnation.

The Indonesian economy is in tatters due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many businesses are losing money. Not a few have gone bankrupt. This condition makes many companies lay off people everywhere. The government itself can't do much.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) even asked all Indonesians to dare to live side by side with COVID-19. Jokowi revealed this narrative so that the community could carry out health protocols until the COVID-19 vaccine was distributed.

Political elites are also aware of the great difficulties of COVID-19. Moreover, all Indonesian people will celebrate the democratic party of the 2024 election. Many political parties feel that holding the 2024 election in the midst of uncertainty over the end of the COVID-19 pandemic brings big problems.

President Jokowi's rebuttal regarding the issue of wanting to be president for three terms. (X/@fadjoeL)

This condition makes many among the political elite suggest that the 2024 election be postponed for one or two years. At least until the conditions are safer and more controlled from COVID-19.

The Minister of Investment, Bahlil Lahadahlia, and the General Chairperson of the National Awakening Party (PKB), Muhaimin Iskandar, felt that the delay was needed. This condition is because Indonesia's economy needs stability so that it can adapt to the challenges of the times first.

In fact, the demands did not stop there. The issue of the postponement of the election was also ridden with another proposal, namely, the discourse on the presidential post for three terms. The issue has indeed been present since 2019, but it has only resurfaced in early 2022.

"If there is indeed room to consider a process to be postponed (the 2024 election), it is much better. Because they have just finished the battered round with health issues. This is a new business world that wants to rise. Just want to rise, hit again with political issues," said Bahlil as quoted by the Kompas TV Youtube page, January 12, 2022.

The proposal made many people believe that the idea of the 2024 election was postponed and the president's three-term post emerged from the self-governing body. Jokowi is considered to have played a major role in smoothing his desire to serve up to three terms.

The Minister of Law and Human Rights, Mahfud MD, also spoke up on March 7, 2022. He denied the accusation that the government was behind the desire to postpone the 2024 election and the president for three terms. Mahfud emphasized that the government had never discussed the issue.

Mahfud believes that Jokowi wants the election to run on time. Jokowi has also denied that he wants the presidency for three terms. This narrative makes Mahfud invite all parties not to doubt President Jokowi's commitment.

"In the government itself, there has never been a discussion about postponing elections or adding presidential/vice presidential terms, either to become three terms or to extend one or two years."

"February 14, 2024 (2024 elections) was then approved by the DPR, KPU, and the government at a working meeting on January 24, 2022. The president's attitude is clear about the schedule for the 2024 elections," said Mahfud as quoted by the ANTARA website, March 7, 2022.