PDIP: Pak Lurah Calls Favorites For Jokowi

PDIP DPP Chairman Said Abdullah/PHOTO: Nailin In Saroh-VOI

The PDI-P responded to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi)'s remarks that alluded to the term 'Pak Lurah' in the annual session of the MPR/DPR/DPD.

PDIP DPP chairman Said Abdullah explained that the term 'Pak Lurah' is an expression of love and a love call for Jokowi that develops among elites, then spreads to the public.

"Actually, among the elites, we are developing the 'Pak Lurah, Pak Lurah' which shows love. Because our president has a high public trust, extraordinary, so that among the elites, if you call 'Mr. Lurah', 'Mr. Lurah' is a favorite call. That's his favorite call," Said said at the DPR Gdeung, Wednesday, August 16.

Said was also surprised when he heard Jokowi's statement about him having no authority regarding the name of the presidential and vice presidential candidates. According to Said, what Jokowi said during the speech was also a neutral clarification.

"I am the President of the Republic of Indonesia, not the general chairman of the party," said Said.

"And it shows that the President remains strong as president. He did not participate in the political party because he was well aware as stated by the President, clear," he added.

In addition to the term Pak Lurah, Jokowi also mentioned the photos that are often juxtaposed with potential presidential candidates such as Prabowo Subianto and Ganjar Pranowo. From this innuendo, according to Said, Jokowi's words should be trusted that the head of state does not interfere in the 2024 presidential election.

"What was conveyed by the President with a very high public trust, without any doubt we must believe. That the President will never mess (political)," said Said.

Previously, President Joko Widodo revealed the mention of 'Pak Lurah' for himself regarding the 2024 presidential election (Pilpres). He said this during a speech at the annual session of the MPR/DPR/DPD.

Initially, Jokowi admitted that he did not know who the 'Mr. Lurah' was called. Later he only found out that the designation was a code for him regarding the direction of the name of the presidential candidate (candidate) and vice presidential candidate (cawapres).

"We are currently entering the political year. The atmosphere is already warm and nails and is trending among politicians and political parties. Whenever asked about who the vice presidential candidate is. The answer is: 'There is no direction from the village head'. I had a chance to think. Who is the 'Mr. Lurah'. It's a little bit, Mr. Lurah. Later I found out what Mr. Lurah meant, it turned out to be me," said Jokowi.

Reluctant to be referred to as 'Pak Lurah', Jokowi emphasized his position as president of the Republic of Indonesia. Even though "Pak Lurah" is only a mystery.

"Yes, I just answered: I am not the village head. I am the President of the Republic of Indonesia. It turns out that the village head is a code," he said.

As if he did not want to interfere in the affairs of the presidential election, Jokowi also emphasized that the name of the presidential and vice-presidential candidates is the domain of the general chairman of political parties.

"But I need to emphasize, I am not the general chairman of political parties, nor the chairman of the coalition of parties and in accordance with the provisions of the Law which determines the presidential and vice presidential candidates are political parties and coalitions of political parties," he said.

"So I want to say that it is not my authority, not the authority of the Lurah. Even though I understand the fate of a President to be used as a 'pattens', used as an alibi, used as a shield," Jokowi continued.