The Issue Of Postponing The 2024 Election, The Government: As An Aspiration, Of Course It Is Accommodated

Faldo Maldini's billboard at Simpang Padang Baru, Padang City. (Antara/Ikhwan Wahyudi)

JAKARTA - The government accommodates various aspirations from the community regarding the proposed postponement of the 2024 General Election (Election).

"As an aspiration, of course it is accommodated, as the Government accommodates various inputs that have been received so far from the public and all political parties," said Special Staff to the Minister of State Secretary Faldo Maldini in Jakarta, as reported by Antara, Monday, February 28.

The issue related to the proposed postponement of the 2024 General Election was first conveyed by the General Chair of the National Awakening Party (PKB) Muhaimin Iskandar. Furthermore, the issue of the postponement was also proposed by the Chairperson of the Golkar Party (Golkar) Airlangga Hartarto and the Chairperson of the National Mandate Party (PAN) Zuklifli Hasan.

The general chairman of the PKB, Golkar Party and PAN proposed the postponement of the 2024 election for various reasons. However, Faldo emphasized that the Government did not know about the proposal.

"The declaration of support is an aspiration from a political party. The government doesn't know about the plan. This has nothing to do with the government, let alone a political transaction. So don't drag it around," he said.

According to him, the government is currently focusing on recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.

"This is a storm that is felt by people from all walks of life. The government is focused on restoring health and restoring the economy, in particular opening up as many quality jobs as possible. Once again, the government's focus is on that, nothing else," he said.

In addition to post-pandemic recovery, he continued, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is also overseeing a major transformation, namely the relocation of the National Capital (IKN) of the Archipelago to East Kalimantan.

"As an effort to change the mindset, development that reduces inequality, transition to sustainable renewable energy and rearrange institutions that have been hampering acceleration. If anyone links the Government in mobilizing declarations, mobilizing political party elites, we emphasize that the Government's work is too much. , there is no time," he said.

Previously, on Wednesday, February 23, Muhaimin Iskandar suggested that the 2024 Simultaneous Election be postponed.

Muhaimin said that business players and economists predict that Indonesia will experience a momentum of economic improvement after two years of the pandemic, so that the period that coincides with the transition of power is feared to cause uncertainty in the economic and business sectors.

Therefore, Muhaimin proposed that the 2024 Simultaneous Elections be postponed for a period of one to two years and would bring the proposal to the President. Furthermore, Thursday, February 24, Airlangga Hartarto admitted that he accepted the aspirations of the farmers who wanted President Jokowi's government to continue for three terms.

The Coordinating Minister for the Economy also promised to discuss the proposal with the leaders of other political parties.

After Muhaimin and Airlangga, then there was Zulkifli Hasan who agreed to postpone the 2024 Simultaneous Elections.

Zulkifli mentioned five reasons related to the delay. First, the COVID-19 pandemic is not over yet, so it requires serious attention to handle it.

Second, the Indonesian economy has not improved because according to Zulkifli, the current average economic growth is at 3-3.5 percent. Third, considering the global situation, such as the global economy, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine will affect the Indonesian and global economy.

Fourth, the election requires a large cost of around Rp. 180-190 trillion. Fifth, many development programs have been delayed due to the pandemic, so the postponement of elections is also for the sake of policy sustainability.

However, PDI-P Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto emphasized that his party rejected the proposed postponement of the election.

According to Hasto, the PDI-P is subject to the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, which states that elections are held once every five years and form a democratic culture. If the periodization culture is disturbed, it will only have an impact on political instability, he said.

In addition, the Democratic Party also rejected the proposed postponement of the election as conveyed by General Chair Agus Harimurti Yudhohyono (AHY).

AHY said the proposed postponement was driven by someone he described as a person who was afraid of losing power. He stressed that the people did not want that to happen.