Bahlil Lahadalia: Please Note, First Idea Asking For The 2024 Presidential Election To Be Postponed By Me

General Chairperson Of The Golkar Party DPP Bahlil Lahadalia / DOK ANTARA

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Golkar Party DPP Bahlil Lahadalia emphasized that it was he who proposed the idea to postpone the 2024 Presidential Election (Pilpres).

"Please note it carefully. Before I became General Chair of Golkar, the first idea that was issued for the presidential election was the idea of the Minister of Investment, namely me," said Bahlil during a press conference at the Golkar Party DPP office, Slipi, West Jakarta, Antara, Tuesday, December 31.

Hal tersebut sekaligus membantah pernyataan Sekretaris Jenderal PDI Perjuangan Hasto Kristiyanto yang mengatakan Presiden ke 7 Joko Widodo yang meminta penundahan pilpres hingga perpanjangan masa jabatan menjadi tiga periode.

"So it feels a bit cool to know, it looks like it," said Bahlil.

Bahlil explained that the idea arose because at that time the situation in Indonesia's economic condition was still unstable after being released from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Because the economic condition is not yet stable, Bahlil also received input from several groups including investors so that the presidential election should be postponed first while waiting for economic conditions to recover.

"If it can be considered according to the rules, it is allowed, yes, if the presidential election can be postponed. Postponed or the election is postponed, that's another matter. So no one asked for three terms," said Bahlil.

Therefore, Bahlil questioned those who raised the issue that it was Jokowi who asked for an extension of his term of office to the PDI-P.

Previously, Jokowi emphasized that he had never asked for an extension of his position as head of state.

"I repeat this again, I have never asked anyone for an extension of three terms," he said in Solo, Central Java, Monday.

In fact, he asked that the issue be asked to a number of parties, one of which was PDIP General Chair Megawati Soekarnoputri.

As is known, while serving as president, Jokowi was still listed as a PDIP cadre.

"Just ask Mrs. Mega, Mbak Puan, just ask the party. When, where, who I care about, never exist," he said.

He asked anyone not to make statements that were not clear. "Don't frame evil like that, it's not good," he said.

To note, Hasto Kristiyanto has been named a suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) regarding the bribery case that ensnared Harun Masiku.

Determination of Hasto Kristiyanto's name as a suspect is contained in an investigation warrant or sprindik numbered Sprin.Dik/153/DIK.00/01/12/2024 dated December 23, 2024.

After being named a suspect, Hasto gave a statement through his personal social media. In this statement, he mentioned the party who had asked Megawati for a three-term extension.