Jokowi Rejects Election Postponement, Arsul Sani: Look At Khusnuzon, Who Determines Not The President

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairperson of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), Arsul Sani, believes that President Joko Widodo's rejection of the postponement of the 2024 election must be viewed favorably.

According to him, there is no longer any question about the president's firmness in responding to the proposed postponement of the election. Because what determines is the constitution.

"If the president says it, for me, we have to look at it with respect, have a good attitude. In the end, everything returns to obeying the constitution", said Arsul at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Monday, March 7.

The PPP deputy said that the decision regarding the postponement of the election is actually not up to the president and the House of Representatives (DPR), but to political parties. Then, the president will obey the inputs from the community and political parties.

"It's not the president who decides, it's not the DPR that goes back to the strength of the existing political parties. If the existing political parties listen to the aspirations of the majority, at least the existing survey and the constitution remains unchanged, the president will obey", said Arsul.

Therefore, the chairman of the House of Representatives PPP faction considered that the president's statement should no longer be found guilty. In fact, to mention Jokowi is not firm.

"It should not be interpreted that it is not firm, if it is interpreted as not firm or even made firm, it will be criticized again. It is not the President who decides but the MPR", said Arsul.

Previously, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, Mahfud MD, emphasized President Joko Widodo's stance against the proposed postponement of the 2024 General Election. Neither to be three terms nor to extend one or two years.

"There has never been any discussion about the postponement of the election and the addition of the term of office", Mahfud said in a press statement, Monday, March 7.

Instead, he continued, President Joko Widodo chaired cabinet meetings twice, namely on September 14, 2021, and September 27, 2021.

During the meeting, Mahfud explained, Jokowi asked the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, the Minister of Home Affairs, and the head of State Intelligence Agency (BIN), to ensure that the 2024 elections run safely, smoothly, and do not waste the budget, the campaign period is not too long and the distance between voting and the inauguration day for officials resulting from the 2024 general election and local elections is not too long.

"This means that the rising political temperature ahead of the formation of a new cabinet in 2024 will not take too long. This was conveyed by the president at the meeting on September 14, 2021", he explained.

Mahfud said, the President also asked the Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security, the Minister of Home Affairs, and the Head of BIN to communicate with the KPU (General Elections Commission), Bawaslu (General Election Supervisory Agency), DKPP (Election Organizing Honorary Council) and DPR to determine the election schedule.

Based on cross-ministerial/institutional meetings held at the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs on 17 September 2021 and 23 September 2021, the government proposes a vote on 8 or 15 May 2024.

"This was approved by a cabinet meeting chaired by the president on 27 September 2021 to be submitted to the KPU and DPR", he explained.

However, Mahfud explained, when the alternative was presented in a working meeting on October 6, 2021, between the DPR, KPU, and the government, it turned out that the DPR and KPU did not agree and proposed another alternative.

Therefore, he continued, the president communicated directly with the KPU at the Merdeka Palace on November 11, 2021, and the president stated that he agreed that the vote would be held on February 14, 2024.

"On February 14, 2024, it was later approved by the DPR, KPU, and the Government at the working meeting on January 24, 2022", explained Mahfud.

After that, he added, the President emphasized again to the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs and the Minister of Home Affairs to thoroughly prepare all the necessary instruments for the implementation of the 2024 Simultaneous General Election and Regional Head Elections.

"Thus, the president's attitude is clear about the schedule for holding the 2024 general election", Mahfud said.