DPR Commission II: Prabowo's Right To Support Ahmad Luthfi-Taj Yasin

The DPR RI Commission II hearing with the acting (Pj) regional head and the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding the readiness of the 2024 Pilkada at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Monday (11/11/2024). BETWEEN/Through Sustira K

JAKARTA - Chairman of Commission II of the House of Representatives, Rifqinizamy Karsayuda, assessed that President Prabowo Subianto's support for the Candidate for Governor and Deputy Governor of Central Java Ahmad Luthfi-Taj Yasin Maimoen was his right as Chairman of the Gerindra Party.

"That is his right as chairman of the party. In Indonesia, there is no prohibition regarding the president serving as chairman of the party," said Rifqinizamy as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, November 11.

This, he said, was due to the logical consequences of the party-based presidential system in Indonesia, where presidential and vice presidential candidates could only be carried by political parties and coalitions of political parties.

Therefore, he considered Prabowo's support for Ahmad Luthfi-Taj Yasin Maimoen to be a natural thing, as long as he did not abuse his authority as president.

"I think it is his right to then support anyone, especially the support from the Gerindra Party," he said.

Deputy Chairman of Commission II of the DPR Bahtra also assessed that no rules were violated when Prabowo as president gave his support to Ahmad Luthfi-Taj Yasin Maimoen.

"So actually nothing is violated, don't frame it as if when the president, vice president, or minister of campaign violates the law, this has been regulated very clearly," said Bahtra while leading the hearing (RDP) with the Ministry of Home Affairs and a number of regional officials (Pj).

He said the president's rules for campaigning had been accommodated in Article 299 paragraph (1) of the Election Law.

"And then it was strengthened again Article 281 paragraph (1) that all public officials, presidents, ministers, mayors, governors, are legally campaigning if, for example, the first is not using state facilities, and the second is not in the context of normal days, and if he is on weekdays, he may take leave," he said.

The regulation, he continued, was strengthened again by Article 53 of KPU Regulation (PKPU) Number 14 of 2024, as well as the Constitutional Court Decision (MK) Number 52/PUU-XXII/2024 which clarifies the contents of Article 70 paragraph (2) of the Pilkada Law.

"All of us are moving based on the rules of the law and if it doesn't violate why it's always been a problem," he said.

As for the meeting, member of Commission II of the DPR, Deddy Sitorus, highlighted the support that Prabowo gave to Ahmad Luthfi-Taj Yasin.

"It is true that Pak Prabowo Subianto is the General Chair of the Gerindra Party who has the right to endorse him, but if it is done before the campaign period it is very permissible as chairman, but as president, there were stages, regulations, that must be followed," he said in a meeting.

He said Prabowo played three roles at once, namely as head of state, head of government, and commander-in-chief of the TNI.

"I'm afraid, although the President may not intend or don't think about it, it becomes a reference for all instruments under him, it can be captured differently, it can be multiple interpretations, sir. I think this should be straightened out. The President owes us an explanation that it does not mean that the instruments of state, government, armed forces under his command can mess up in the elections," he said.

Previously, Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi's candidate uploaded a video with a duration of about 5 minutes on his Instagram account @ahmadluthfi_official which contained Prabowo's support for his candidacy with Taj Yasin in the 2024 Central Java Pilkada on Saturday (9/11).