JAKARTA - The chairman of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) DPP, Mardani Ali Sera, responded to the chairman of the Indonesian Election Supervisory Board (Bawaslu) Rahmat Bagja, who said that one of the presidential candidates diligently travelled to several regions in Indonesia. In fact, the campaign period has not yet started.

According to Mardani, Bawaslu should just relax because until now there is no official candidate for president or vice president. So, he considered, all parties may go on a political safari or go around to stay in touch with anyone.

"No one has officially become a presidential - vice presidential candidate. So, everyone is allowed to go around and stay in touch. Just relax", Mardani told reporters, Monday, February 20.

The member of Commission II of the DPR RI said that the political safari carried out by the presidential candidates cannot be called a campaign as long as they have not officially registered with the General Elections Commission (KPU).

"As long as they haven't registered and are designated as presidential and vice presidential candidates, it can't be called a campaign", said Mardani.

Therefore, in Mardani's opinion, there has been no violation of election rules by a presidential candidate who a political party has promoted. "Because there has been no determination of candidates, either legislative or presidential elections", said Mardani.

It has been proven that until now only Anies Baswedan has been declared a presidential candidate by the NasDem Party and has received support from PKS and Democrats who are members of the Prospective Coalition for Change.

Previously, the chairman of the Indonesian Election Supervisory Body, Rahmat Bagja, insinuated that there were presidential candidates who like to travel around or go on political safaris to several regions in Indonesia ahead of the 2024 elections.

"Then the political safari, I'm sorry, keep going around, it's taking a long time ono opo iki (what's going on, red)? The presidential candidate is the only one who travels around", Bagja quipped at the KedaiKOPI public discussion event entitled OTW 2024 a year ahead of the election, people's eyes were fixed on the KPU and Bawaslu at the Erian Hotel, Menteng, Central Jakarta, Sunday, 19 February.

Bagja said that the political safari should have been carried out internally by the party, especially since the campaign period had not yet been officially opened. So, he said, he could not involve the public in public places.

"Political safaris are a problem for us because internally the party should. No need to involve the community. Now don't be us either, if it's internally the party is okay, in the building", he said.

According to Bagja, such political safaris are campaign methods and should not be carried out. However, it can be done on the party's agenda such as commemorating party birthdays.

“Suddenly it was open to the public, then convoys, and others. That's an open meeting, a public meeting. It's a campaign method. What should I do?” said Bagja.

"Closed please, want a party anniversary, for example, make a hero's day commemoration event, please. The important thing is an internal party, in a closed room", he added.

Bagja emphasized that every political party is allowed to socialize by placing party attributes such as billboards as proof that there is no delay in the 2024 elections. However, don't invite the public to vote for a presidential candidate because the campaign has not yet started.

 

"Please socialize. But please no invitations. If you have already campaigned. Just introduce yourself, don't ask. Later, if invited, November 28 and above. Choose me, please", he concluded.


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