Luhut's Banner For The 2026 Presidential Candidate Is Attached, What Is The Satire Of Political Propaganda?

Illustration/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - After many statements by the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan regarding big data on the postponement of the 2024 election. Now a banner that reads "Support Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan as a Presidential Candidate 2026" has appeared at one of the JPOs in East Jakarta (Jaktim).

In response to this, political observers from UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Adi Prayitno assessed the purpose of installing the winged 'Luhut Capres 2026' banner. This means that there are two purposes for installing banners, political propaganda or a form of satire against Luhut.

"One side is similar to political propaganda supporting the postponement of the election. The other side could be a form of satire to the LBP which is seen as actively building arguments for postponing the election," Adi said in Jakarta, Wednesday, March 15. However, the Executive Director of Indonesian Political Parameters (PPI) believes the banner to be political propaganda. "This is like a political propaganda banner whose motives are difficult to verify," said Adi.

According to Adi, support related to Luhut running for the presidential election is a normal thing in democracy. But, he said, it became a serious problem when Luhut was supported to run for the 2026 presidential election.

"This banner has more political propaganda than support for LBP running for the presidential election," he said.

The reason is, the DPR and the Government as well as the election organizers have agreed that the voting day will fall on February 14, 2024.

"It is clear that the DPR and the government have agreed that the simultaneous elections will be held on February 14, 2024, this banner directly invites the public to agree that the election is postponed to 2026 for which there is no legal reason," Adi concluded.

Previously, the East Jakarta Satpol PP removed banners reading 'Luhut Capres 2026' that were in a number of locations. Head of Satpol PP, East Jakarta, Budhy Novian, said that the installation of banners was not authorized. "Installing banners without permission placed in public facilities at JPOs. Installed without permission (removed)," he said when confirmed, Tuesday, March 15.