Presidential Election Dispute Hearing, Father Magnis Says the President is Like a Mafia Boss If He Uses Power for the Family's Sake

Professor of Philosophy STF Driyakara, Franz Magnis-Suseno or Father Magnis in the 2024 presidential election dispute trial at the Constitutional Court, Tuesday 2 April. (doc VOI)

JAKARTA - STF Driyakara Philosophy Professor, Franz Magnis-Suseno or Father Magnis touched on presidential ethics in the 2024 presidential election dispute trial at the Constitutional Court (MK). According to him, the president is like a mafia leader if he uses his authority for the sake of his family.

This was expressed by Father Magnis who was presented as an expert by the presidential and vice presidential candidate pair 03 Ganjar-Mahfud as the applicant.

Initially, Father first explained that a supreme authority like the president is required to have high ethical standards.

"Moreover, this applies to a ruler, for example a president. It is not enough as long as he does not break the law. More is required of a president, a powerful president who can give orders to determine the safety and failure of someone's life and death. So that we entrust ourselves to the hands of people in power "so that we are safe with him. A president must prove himself to be a good person, national-minded, wise, honest, fair," said Father Magnis, Tuesday, April 2.

Father Magnis then said that a president who has high ethical standards certainly has an awareness that the safety of his citizens and the entire nation is his responsibility.

He said a president who upholds ethics will prioritize the interests of the people above all else. Therefore, the president's upright ethics will not give rise to very skewed perceptions among the public.

"Any suggestion that he uses his power for his own benefit or for the benefit of his family is fatal," he said.

"So a president must belong to all. Not just those who elect him. Even if he comes from one party, once he becomes president all his actions must be for the safety of all. Using power to benefit certain parties makes the president similar to the leader of a mafia organization," continued Father Magnis.

Father Magnis then emphasized that the ethics regarding how the president behaves and acts are well stated in the preamble to the 1945 Constitution.

"Here it can be reminded that the ethical insights of the Indonesian President were well formulated in the preamble to the 1945 Constitution," he said.