Sandiaga Uno Responds To News Minister Wants To Run For Presidential Election: Position Of Minister Of Presidential Prerogatives

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno at the Vice President's Palace, Jakarta, Thursday (12/5/2022). ANTARA/Desca Lidya Natalia

JAKARTA - Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno said the ministerial position was the prerogative of President Joko Widodo.

This was conveyed by Sandiaga regarding a number of ministers who are members of the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet who will participate in the 2024 Presidential General Election (Pilpres).

"The ministerial position is the President's prerogative, of course the President will later determine the ministerial position, and he will also ensure that this is in the national interest which can have the best impact because it is purely the President's prerogative," said Sandiaga at the Vice Presidential Palace in Jakarta, as reported by Antara, Thursday, May 12.

Previously, President Joko Widodo in the introduction to the Plenary Cabinet Session on May 9, 2022 also said that ministers and heads of institutions were really focused on working on their respective duties so that the country's priority and strategic agendas were carried out properly.

The statement emerged because it is known that at least four ministers are being touted to run in the 2024 presidential election

The four are Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto, Minister of SOEs Erick Thohir, and Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno.

Sandiaga also agreed with President Jokowi's statement.

"I totally agree, and now it's very clear. So far I have always explained that the focus is on tasks and functions, I happened to be assigned to the sector hardest hit by the pandemic, the tourism sector, the creative economy, and with that explanation it was clear that all activities were centered on revival. economy, tourism, creative economy," said Sandiaga.

Besides President Jokowi, Vice President Ma'ruf Amin also asked ministers not to leave their respective jobs.

"I agree, yes, and the President's direction is clear and reinforced and underlined by Abah that we focus on our duties and functions. This is crucial because we are entering a period of revival. Don't let us end up missing focus and cannot reach 2022, we will rise, there are 1 1 million jobs in the tourism economic sector, which is my responsibility," said Sandiaga.

Related to the concerns of a number of parties that cabinet ministers who are interested in participating in the 2024 presidential election will use the ministry's facilities in their campaigns, Sandiaga said that ministers use the facilities as long as they are in accordance with their duties and functions.

"Of course, carrying out the mandate of the task that has been given to state officials and it's good we are reminded. All of you are supervising, the public is all watching, so if something feels inappropriate, it shouldn't be conveyed to the minister concerned. there are netizens, now everything is open," said Sandi.

Regarding the possibility of becoming a vice presidential candidate or even a presidential candidate in 2024, Sandiaga will do as he did during his candidacy in the 2019 presidential election.

"I've been a lead by example, yes, if my friends saw the time of the deputy governor (Jakarta), there was no provision for the deputy governor to resign, I resigned because I was committed to this matter. The tasks at the Kemenprekraf are in accordance with the mandate from him," said Sandi.