Banning Minister From Talking For 3 Periods, Observers Call It Evidence Jokowi Is Under Pressure, Including By PDIP

President Jokowi and Coordinating Minister Luhut aboard the warship KRI Imam Bonjol 383 in Natuna waters, Riau Islands, Thursday 23 June. (Setpres doc)

JAKARTA - Esa Unggul University political communication observer Jamiluddin Ritonga assessed that President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi) order to his ministers to no longer discuss the discourse of extending the presidential term to 3 terms was correct.

Although, according to him, the ban seemed slow. Because Jokowi only announced the ban after there was a commotion in the community.

According to Jamiluddin, the change in President Jokowi's attitude seems to have occurred after he was under pressure. The reason is that the majority of people firmly reject it even as reflected in the survey results.

"Because of that, the president seems to have seen the three-term presidential discourse in his favor. The president seems even more cornered by the actions of some of his trusted ministers", Jamiluddin told VOI, Wednesday, April 6.

There is an impression, continued Jamiluddin, that the ban was conveyed after getting pressure from various elements of society. Coalition parties, such as PDIP, Gerindra, and NasDem vehemently reject this discourse.

"There are even those who asked the ministers not to participate in voicing the president for three terms", he said.

The same thing, he continued, was also voiced by the Democratic Party and PKS. This opposition party almost every day criticizes the discourse.

"So, pressure from several elements of society and political parties seems to be effective in changing Jokowi's attitude. This pressure must not be relaxed so that the three-term presidential discourse really dies", he said.

Previously, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) ordered his ministers to focus on work. They were asked to stop talking about postponing the election or extending the presidential term.

"Don't cause polemics in the community. Focus on working in dealing with the difficulties we face", said Jokowi when opening the Plenary Cabinet Session which was broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube on Wednesday, April 6.

"Don't let anyone say anything about delays, extensions. No", he said.

He reminded his ministers to have a sensitive attitude or sense of crisis to the difficulties experienced by society today. According to Jokowi, it is more important for his ministers to explain to the public the difficult global situation.

"Convey the language of the people and the steps that have been taken by the government in dealing with the crisis and rising inflation", said Jokowi.