The Palace Emphasizes That President Prabowo Does Not Violate The Election Law To Support Luthfi In The Central Java Regional Head Election

Deputy Chief of Presidential Staff (KSP) Muhammad Qodari when met in Jakarta, Tuesday 12 November 2024. (ANTARA-Agatha Olivia Victoria)

JAKARTA - The Presidential Staff Office (KSP) affirms President Prabowo Subianto's support for the candidate pair for governor and deputy governor of Central Java Ahmad Luthfi-Taj Yasin is not the head of state but the General Chair of the Gerindra Party.

Deputy KSP Muhammad Qodari said Prabowo was a high-ranking head of political parties, so according to him, no rules were violated if he gave support to candidates for the 2024 Pilkada.

"Pak Prabowo is a political figure, he provides support to candidates in the Pilkada as chairman of the Gerindra Party," said Qodari when met in Jakarta, Tuesday, November 12, which was confiscated by Antara.

Qodari also emphasized that there are no rules in the General Election Law (Pemilu) that are violated if the President participates in national political contestation campaign activities.

Qodari explained that the prohibition of supporting candidate pairs in the regional elections was only aimed at state civil servants (ASN), the TNI, and Polri. However, support in the campaign can also be given by ASN if on holidays or when applying for leave.

"So if you take a vacation or leave, you may support the regional elections and as far as I know, Pak Prabowo at that time gave support to the candidate pairs on Sunday," he said.

He also mentioned that all candidates for regents, mayors, and governors in Indonesia who took part in the regional elections actually had received political support from Prabowo because when applying for candidate pairs in the regional elections, Prabowo signed a letter of support as party chairman.

"I think the context is more for Pak Prabowo to have supporters and he hopes that his supporters will provide support to the candidates he supports," said Qodari.

Previously, Sunday, November 10, the Head of the Presidential Communication Office Hasan Nasbi explained, the provision that President Prabowo Subianto was allowed to participate in political campaign activities in this case related to regional elections as long as he did not use state facilities during its implementation.

"The president and state officials may participate in the campaign, provided that they do not abuse office facilities to campaign, or campaign on weekdays without applying for leave," Hasan said in a written message received in Jakarta.

Of course, as the party chairman, according to Hasan, Prabowo's position clearly supports the regional head candidates he recommends to advance in political contestation.