Preventing President Jokowi's Term From Being Extended Especially For 3 Periods, NasDem Firmly Rejects Proposal To Postpone Constitutional Amendments

President Jokowi/DOK BPMI Setpres

JAKARTA - Chairman of the NasDem Faction MPR Taufik Basari said his faction supported the PDI-P's decision to postpone the proposed amendment to the constitution because it was in line with the position of the NasDem faction.

Tabuas, as he is known, considered it appropriate if the PDI-P faction of the MPR RI as one of the proponents of the constitutional amendment to include the Principles of State Policy (PPHN) decided to postpone the proposed constitutional amendment.

"This is in line with NasDem's stance, which from the beginning suggested that this proposed amendment be reviewed and not forced to be implemented at this time," said Taufik Basari, confirmed by Antara, Monday, March 21.

He considered that the postponement of the proposal prevented the idea of a constitutional amendment related to the PPHN from becoming widespread by including a proposed three-term presidential term as well as a proposed extension of the term of office through a postponement of the election.

According to him, the NasDem faction had warned from the start that the issue of amendments to the PPHN would open Pandora's box for possible impetus for amendments to the presidential term of office.

"Therefore, delaying the proposed constitutional amendment and discussing the PPHN is the right step at this time," he said.

Taufik explained that since the beginning of the 2019-2024 MPR RI period, the NasDem faction of the MPR RI had criticized the idea of a constitutional amendment that was re-emerged related to the desire to include PPHN in the fifth amendment of the 1945 Constitution.

Taubas emphasized that to make changes to the 1945 Constitution there must be a fundamental reason and based on the needs of the Indonesian people and nation.

"We consider that at this time there is no urgent need to make amendments, both to accommodate the PPHN, let alone open up the opportunity for the president's term of office to be three terms or an extension of office through postponement of elections. Therefore, there is currently no sufficient reason to make amendments," he said.

He said the proposed amendment to the PPHN was still an elite idea and had not yet become a public need.

According to him, although the 1945 Constitution does not prohibit constitutional amendments, amendments must be carried out carefully, with full consideration, and based on fundamental needs in the interest of the nation.

"To ensure this, the NasDem Faction has conducted a survey in collaboration with the Political Indicator survey agency led by Burhanuddin Muhtadi in September 2021 to observe the public's views regarding PPHN and amendment issues," he said.

Taufik explained that the survey results stated that the majority of the public and influential figures did not agree that the current amendment was carried out, both to present the PPHN and for other issues.