Jokowi Says President May Take Sides, Anies Asks Constitutional Law Experts To Study

Presidential Candidate Anies Baswedan arrived at the KPK to take part in the Paku Integrity event on Wednesday, January 17 evening. (Diah-VOI)

Presidential Candidate number 1 Anies Rasyid Baswedan asked constitutional law experts (HTN/TN) to verify and review President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi) statement stating that the president may campaign and favor the 2024 General Election.

"I ask constitutional law experts to verify whether it (statement) is in accordance with existing legal provisions," said Anies during a grand campaign in the Haji Agus Salim Sports Center, Padang City, West Sumatra (West Sumatra), Thursday, January 25.

According to Anies, when someone is sworn in to hold a position, at that time they must also follow the applicable legal rules, therefore when the president, minister, governor and mayor or regent takes office, must act according to legal provisions as well.

"So, yesterday the President said, I asked constitutional law experts to verify it," he said.

The 2nd Chancellor of Paramadina University is of the view that a study or verification is needed to avoid perceptions of agreeing or not regarding President Joko Widodo's statement.

"This is not a right or wrong issue. But this is in accordance with the rule of law or not," he said.

Previously, President Joko Widodo said that the president and ministers had democratic and political rights that allowed them to participate in the election campaign as long as they did not use state facilities.

Jokowi said this was in response to a number of ministers of the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet who entered as a successful team to support the presidential and vice presidential candidate pairs participating in the 2024 presidential election.