Discourse On Impeachment, Weak Issues And No Political Support

Photo Illustration By Andry Winarko

JAKARTA - Faizal Assegaf, one of the frontmen of the Petition 100 group, tried to take advantage of the moment to go to the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD, he argued to discuss election fraud. However, one of the participants who attended the meeting had an idea to impeach Jokowi. But unfortunately, the idea of impeachment did not receive a tit for tat from the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs.

At that time, Mahfud was of the opinion that the impeachment was the domain of political parties and the DPR he asked the group to come to the DPR and MPR.

Responding to the idea of impeachment, Deputy Chairperson of the YLBHI Advocacy Arif Maulana admitted that he agreed with the pressure to impeach. He believes it is the people's right to urge law enforcement against a president who is suspected of violating the constitution and destroying democracy. Because impeachment is a constitutional and democratic mechanism that can be made possible in the 1945 Constitution and can be urged by the people to warn the President who is proven to have committed violations and committed disgraceful acts through the DPR and MK.

The demand, said Arif, is a form of the mechanism for monitoring the people to their president who is directly elected so that the president does not arbitrarily abuse the power given by the people for his personal interests or certain groups, proven to support his son who becomes a running mate by cheating or against the law. Moreover, in the election, the president should be neutral and ensure that the election runs honestly and fairly. Responding to the discourse on impeachment, Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko said the president still received a fairly high appreciation from the public for his leadership attitude. He reminded the parties not to make other agendas that are not productive for the community and for the government, because the government and the president are focusing on the success of elections.

In line with Moeldoko, Presidential Special Staff Coordinator Ari Dwipayana, through his written statement, said that the Petition 100 action which conveyed the idea of impeachment to Mahfud MD was an unconstitutional act. According to him, in a democratic country, expressing opinions, criticisms or even having political dreams is legal.

Only now is Indonesia entering the political year, so that there will be parties who take the opportunity and use the narrative of impeachment of the President for electoral political purposes. According to him, this action is not appropriate. Regarding the impeachment of the President, the mechanism has been regulated in the Constitution. The corridor is also clear, it must involve state institutions [DPR, MK, MPR], with strict conditions. Apart from that, it is an unconstitutional action," he told reporters, Friday, January 12.

Chairman of the Nasdem Party, Surya Paloh also assessed that the discourse on impeachment made by the Petition Group 100, the timing at this time is not right. Currently, it is very risky. It would be unfortunate, if you had to sacrifice national stability, "Even though your heart is hot, but your head must remain cold." said Surya Paloh when intercepted by reporters in Lombok, January 22. Activist 98 Budiman Sudjatmiko also reminded all parties to stop the issue of impeachment, political dynasties, and efforts to thwart the 2024 presidential election which had been tightened to the public. He actually called for all parties to keep the election running safely and peacefully. Thus when delivering a statement at the DPP Headquarters of brotherhood 98, Friday, January 19.

Responding to the polemic, Professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Indonesia, Fitra Arsil, believes that the President should not argue at the level of technical regulations. The president should be the main statesman, therefore he should not be caught up in words and points of communication in regulations but understanding legal politics, the philosophical idea of every provision in laws and regulations.

In the situation of citizens who are being divided into political and tense poles like today, the president should take a position as the glue of the nation. The current condition is increasingly rare for statesmen who are not trapped in very practical political activities.

"Instead of making the competition situation healthier, it has accelerated the division in the community," he told VOI.

The chairman of the Partai Kebangkitan Nusantara (PKN) Anas Urbaningrum also spoke up with the discourse on impeachment and neutrality of the president in the 2024 General Election. According to Anas, the discourse on impeachment that was heard by sayups was an issue that came not from parties that had seats in the DPR. Based on this, Anas considered that the impeachment issues and discourse were difficult to consider as serious political issues.

"We, who are in the regions, have certainly heard about the issue of impeachment from Jakarta. However, the issue does not come from parties that have seats in the DPR. So it is difficult to consider it a serious issue," said Anas Urbaningrum in his social media account.

In addition, Anas added that the second reason that could be seen from the political constellation, in this case, the opposition's strength was greatly reduced. This can be seen from the one party, which was very critical for nine years to the government, which has now shifted to supporting policies and one candidate pair supported by Jokowi.

"The second reason can be seen from the political contalation where the strength of the opposition is decreasing. For example, it can be seen from the Democratic Party, which for nine years has been critical to the government, has now shifted and supported one candidate who clearly has received support from President Jokowi. So if this idea, for example, develops, it will be difficult to get maximum support.

Anas added that the third reason is none other than the attitude of the party that likes to give critical statements to the Jokowi government has not dared to withdraw its ministers who are in the cabinet.

"On the basis of this, the issue of impeachment politics that was blown and heard by us in the regions will still be heard and have no significant political support," said Anas Urbaningrum.