Mahfud MD Supports President's Position For Only 2 Periods To Limit Power

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD (Photo: Kemenko Polhukam documentation)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD does not agree to extend the presidential term from two to three terms. He still supports the term of office of a president for a maximum of two terms or 10 years.

"Personally, I agree more as now, a maximum of 2 periods only," he said, quoted from the Twitter account @mohmahfudmd, Monday, June 21.

According to him, limiting the presidential term for two terms is a step to limit one's power.

"The existence of the constitution, among other things, to limit the power both in scope and time," said the former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court (MK).

Previously, researcher and SMRC Communications Director Ade Armando said, based on the results of the Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC) national survey, most of the PDIP voters supported Jokowi to run for the 2024 presidential election, reaching 66 percent.

"Even so, the mass of voters from non-parliamentary parties supports Jokowi for three terms (60 percent)," said Ade

While the masses who reject Jokowi running for three terms come from voters from the Gerindra Party (78 percent), PKS (78 percent), and Democrats (71 percent), residents who don't have a party choice (60 percent), Golkar voters (54 percent), and PKB (51 percent).

Krg tepat di-mention kpd sy. Sebab sy bkn anggota Parpol atau MPR. 2 atau 3 periode arenanya ada di parpol dan MPR. Tp scr pribadi sy lbh setuju spt skrng, maksimal 2 periode sj. Adanya konstitusi itu, antara lain, utk membatasi kekuasaan baik lingkup maupun waktunya.

Not right to mention to me. Because I am not a member of a political party or MPR. 2 or 3 periods are the authority of political parties and the MPR. But personally, I agree more like now, a maximum of 2 periods only. The existence of the constitution, among others, is to limit the power of both scope and time. https://t.co/FOm5IEMugf

— Mahfud MD (@mohmahfudmd) June 20, 2021

The SMRC national survey was conducted on May 21-28, 2021. The research through face-to-face interviews involved 1072 respondents who were selected through a multistage random sampling method with a research margin of error of around 3.05 percent.

Even so, the Palace ensured that there was no discussion regarding the discourse of extending the presidential term. Moreover, changing the rules for the term of office of the President from two to three terms.

"Reminding again, President Joko Widodo upholds the 1945 Constitution and is loyal to the 1998 Reformation," said Presidential Staff Staff for Communications M. Fadjroel Rachman in his statement, Saturday, June 19.

This, he continued, is in accordance with Article 7 of the 1st amendment of the 1945 Constitution. Where it states that 'the President and the Vice President hold office for a term of five years, and thereafter can be re-elected in the same office, only for one term'.

Quoting what Jokowi said, Fadjroel said that the discourse of the President for the three periods only wanted to make a face and plunge him into a trap.

"President Jokowi's assertion is that he rejects the discourse of a three-term president, the first on February 12, 2019. Some say that the president was elected for three terms, there are 3 (motives) in my opinion. One is to slap me in the face, the second is to look for my face, even though I have had faces, the third one wants to mislead. That's all," explained Fadjroel quoting Jokowi's statement at the time.

Moreover, said Fadjroel, Jokowi made sure there was no intention or interest related to increasing the term of office. He also said that the former Governor of DKI Jakarta asked all parties not to fry the issue and focus on handling the COVID-19 pandemic and national economic recovery.

"Secondly, on March 15, 2021. I have no intention, nor is there any interest in becoming president for 3 terms. The constitution mandates 2 periods, that's what we must protect together. Don't make new noises, we are now focusing on handling the pandemic," said Fadjroel imitate Jokowi's statement.