Starting To Waver About The Proposal For The 2024 Election To Be Postponed, Golkar: Realistic, Because The Only Thing That Can't Be Changed Is The Bible

Deputy Chairperson of the Golkar Party, Melchias Marcus Mekeng/ Antara

JAKARTA - Political parties seem to have begun to waver with the proposal to postpone the 2024 General Election initiated by the General Chair of the PKB, Muhaimin Iskandar. In fact, the General Chairman of PAN, Zulkifli Hasan, has agreed with the proposal for several reasons. Among them are the ongoing pandemic and the start of the Russia vs Ukraine crisis. Now, the Golkar Party will also seriously examine the discourse on extending the term of office of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) as a result if the 2024 elections are postponed. The party led by Airlangga Hartarto believes that the extension of the presidency is not a taboo subject to discuss. The Deputy Chairperson of the Golkar Party, Melchias Marcus Mekeng, said that the presidential term of office could be changed as long as it was in accordance with the mechanism in the constitution.

“The only thing that can't be changed is the Bible. Beyond that, everything can be changed, as long as it is through a constitutional mechanism,” said Mekeng in Jakarta, Friday, February 25.

Mekeng claimed that the study on the extension of Jokowi's term of office was due to a request from the public submitted by Golkar. Of course, he said, the study must involve all political parties in the parliament and elements of the DPD RI. "What is the attitude of PDIP, Gerindra, PKB, Nasdem, Democrats, PAN, PPP, PKS and DPD RI. Golkar is ready to discuss according to the constitutional mechanism," said Mekeng.

The member of Commission XI of the DPR then explained the reasons for extending the president's term of office must be seriously studied. From an economic point of view, according to Mekeng, the Indonesian economy will be disrupted or the deficit will deepen if elections are held in 2024. "Even though the Indonesian economy is currently not running normally and the budget deficit is still high," said Mekeng.

He said, starting in 2023, the state budget deficit should not exceed 3 percent. This means that the state budget deficit returns to the rules of the state finance law, which is below 3 percent. Meanwhile, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the budget deficit is allowed to be above 3 percent. In addition, he continued, state financing is also largely supported by debt. In 2021 alone, the state debt will reach IDR 1,100 trillion. In 2022, it will decrease slightly because the economy has started to improve, which is Rp. 600 trillion. Meanwhile, in 2023, you can no longer owe debt.

"If there is no longer any debt, then the government must be observant in seeking state revenue. This means that tax revenues must increase, investment must increase, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) must increase," he explained. "We know that during COVID-19, state financing is mostly supported by debt because state revenues are reduced. Later, when there is a frenzy of the 2024 General Election, how to increase state revenues. Must be stuck. This is dangerous," said Mekeng.

On the other hand, continued Mekeng, in conditions of insufficient state revenue and no debt, the state is still required to reduce poverty. However, the various aids that have been available so far, such as Social Assistance and PKH, should not stop immediately. Because, he added, the various aids were to keep people from falling into poverty and to maintain people's purchasing power so that the wheels of the economy kept running.

“If debt is not allowed and all aid is withdrawn due to the approaching elections, how can the economy move? The economy can be even more destroyed if all of that is withdrawn,” said Mekeng again. Moreover, added Mekeng, during the election there were almost no investments because entrepreneurs were in a wait-and-see position and waiting for political events to end. Meanwhile, the cost for the election is quite large, reaching Rp. 100 trillion and must be met by the state. "Where does the government get the funds when the sources of state revenue are reduced due to COVID-19?," Mekeng said.

Not to mention that MSMEs have to keep running. It is known, said Mekeng, that during COVID-19 many MSMEs were subsidized so that they could survive. Because MSMEs are the main pillar of the Indonesian economy today.

"If everything stops because of the election, it's dangerous. The economy will be crippled. That's why the discourse on extending the term of office is realistic and rational," said Mekeng.

Mekeng added that the spirit of extending President Jokowi's term of office is also important because currently a war is going on between Russia and Ukraine. According to him, the war could be long and there might be a big war. "The war has an impact on the world economy as the price of oil will rise and the exchange rate of the dollar against the rupiah will also rise," said Mekeng.