Deputy Gerindra Deputy Arif Poyuono: In The Past, Amien Rais Nyontek, From Where The Question Of The Position Of President Is Only Allowed For 2 Periods?

Amien Rais. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairperson of the Gerindra Party, Arief Poyuono, assesses that the discourse on the presidency for three terms needs serious attention. He admitted, the presidential term of only two terms was too short to lead the government.

Moreover, said Arief, a government led by a president with two terms is still ineffective. This is because whoever is the president who is elected at the beginning of his administration must take care of the coalition so that it remains solid, besides that, he continues to do the state's duties.

"Two periods seem too short for a country of this size. This means that when a president is elected in the first 5 years, the first 1 year must first manage the coalition. Dismantle the cabinet. Finally, many of his campaign promises are neglected," he said, in a virtual discussion, Thursday, March 11th.

Even so, Arief emphasized, the discourse of a three-term presidential term must be worked out constitutionally. This means that the DPR RI approved. He considered that this discourse should not be worried.

"There needs to be a new idea that why someone who is elected president can be re-elected for three terms? This means that this is for the sake of government effectiveness," he explained.

Arief also mentioned on what basis the MPR at that time applied the presidency to only serve for two terms or a total of 10 years.

"Friends in the MPR, who at that time were led by Amien Rais, drafted a law on the presidential election. A citizen, if as president is only allowed two basic terms, where do you cheat?" he said.

Arief admitted that he did not agree if Indonesia needed to imitate the democratic systems of other countries, for example the United States (US). According to him, the political atmosphere in the US and Indonesia cannot be the same as in the country.

"If we want to say it will be followed by a democratic country, namely the US for two periods, the political system is different, there are only two parties in the US. If here the party is sacked," he explained.

According to Arief, by adding the presidential term to three terms, this could build a reduction in the existing parties in Indonesia.