IPDN Professor Rejects Cak Imin's Proposal To Postpone The 2024 Election, Worried About National Political Chaos

JAKARTA - IPDN Professor of Government Science, Johermansah Djohan, said that the PKB general chairman's proposed postponement of the general election could trigger a national political conflict.

"So if you make a proposal as a leader of the nation, don't worry, don't be too free, yes, you have to have a strong constitutional basis," Johermansah said in a written statement quoted by Antara, Wednesday, February 23.

The former Director-General of Regional Autonomy at the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) stated that the proposal of the deputy chairman of the DPR does not have any ties to the rules in the Indonesian constitution. Therefore, he hopes, Cak Imin does not really expect his proposal to be realized.

Johermansah said that constitutionally, the 1945 Constitution had strictly regulated the term of office of the president and vice president. Article 7 of the 1945 Constitution expressly stipulates and limits the term of office of the president to only one term.

According to him, Jokowi was already in 2014-2019 and then continued for 2019-2024. However, it can only be done once.

"Well, now if there is a proposal for an extension, how to arrange it. The Pilkada right now is busy too, this context is to postpone the presidential election. The slot is not in the constitution unless there is a constitutional amendment," he explained.

Johermansah admits that the proposal may get the support of coalition partners in parliament. With a majority in parliament, amendments to the Constitution to write an extension of the president's term of office are not impossible.

"Is it possible to make changes to the current constitution. I think if you look at the constellation of political power, yes, if you have the courage, right? This (PKB) is part of a large coalition, then is it supported or not by a large coalition that changes the constitution politically? formal," he explained.

In addition, Johermansah warned that there is a potential danger if Cak Imin's proposal continues but goes against the public's will. He was actually worried that Cak Imin's proposal would trigger political turbulence from the lower classes of society who rejected the proposal.

"But of course changes to the basic law like that must involve the public and the people at large. So I'm afraid that many people will reject it, there will be national political chaos, dare to take responsibility if there is a national political chaos. Especially now people are starting to prepare the stages in carrying out The presidential, legislative and regional elections are simultaneously national," said Johermansah.