JoMan Supports Extension Of Presidential Term To 2027

President Joko Widodo (Photo: RI Cabinet Secretariat)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is said to have rejected the idea of amending the amendment to the 1945 Constitution regarding the change in the office of president for three terms. However, the amendment discourse has now spread to the issue of extending the presidential term of office by delaying the implementation of the 2024 General Election to 2027.

Regarding this issue, Jokowi Mania Volunteers (JoMan) actually support the extension of the president's term of office on the grounds of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"So the duration of the president's term of office for 2 to 3 years could be a solution," said President Jokowi Mania, Immanuel Ebenezer (Noel), to reporters, Thursday, September 2. It's just that, he said, he agreed with the extension, because the addition of the duration of the presidential term was different from the discourse of a three-term president. "This is different from the discourse of the president for three terms, which must go through elections. Meanwhile, election funds can be used for economic and social stimulants," he continued. by at least one third of the members of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPTR) or 237 of the 711 members of the DPR and DPD. However, according to him, this is not a difficult matter as long as the parties agree. Moreover, there are currently 7 coalition parties of the Jokowi government.

"Automatically, if the term of office is extended by 2 or 3 years, the positions of the DPR and DPD and below are also extended," said Noel.

Noel also predicts that two articles in the constitution will change. The amendment, he said, also included a paragraph on the extension of the term of office of the president in an emergency in Article 7. It also added the authority of the MPR to determine the extension of the term of office of the president and vice president in an emergency.

"In reality, there are indeed emergency conditions. The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly disrupted the economy. Elections require very large funds," said Noel. Previously, Deputy Chairperson of the PPP DPP Arsul Sani, admitted that the issue of the 2024 Election being postponed to 2027 had been discussed in internal political parties. "Of course there will also be discussions, including internal political parties. There are also individual elements of society," said Arsul, Wednesday, August 18. The 2024 election has been postponed. It's just that, said Arsul, the issue of the postponement of the 2024 General Election is because the current government has not worked normally. Because, for almost two years, the focus has only been on dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Then there was a suggestion that our election celebration be postponed. There was a discourse like that. Once again this is a democratic country, right, it can't be banned," said the member of Commission III of the DPR.