PAN: Jokowi's Discourse Of Being Advanced As A Cawapres Only Makes You Sag

President Joko Widodo and Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto at the Dobo Post Office, Aru Islands Regency (Photo: BPMI Setpres/Muchlis Jr)

JAKARTA - The National Mandate Party (PAN) considers that the discourse about President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) being able to run again in the 2024 presidential election by becoming a vice presidential candidate (cawapres) is just to make noise. In fact, PAN said that the discourse could lead to negative prejudice against Jokowi.

"It only makes noise, negative slander and prejudice arises against the president. And, it has nothing to do with intellectual progress," said PAN Deputy General Chair (Waketum) Viva Yoga Mauladi to reporters, Friday, September 16. It is known that the discourse came from a statement by the spokesman for the Constitutional Court (MK) Fajar Laksono. According to Viva, his statement was a personal statement.

Viva also emphasized that the discourse of the president, who has served for two terms, can still become a vice presidential candidate, contradicts the Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, 1945.

"The discourse of a two-term president as a vice presidential candidate put forward by the spokesman for the Constitutional Court, Fajar Laksono, contradicts the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia. A statement that only pollutes public spaces," said Viva. Viva reminded that he should be the spokesman for the Constitutional Court Fajar Laksono to maintain the dignity of his institution. Moreover, the Constitutional Court has the function of maintaining the state constitution.

"As a spokesman for the Constitutional Court, an institution that maintains the country's constitution, it should not express personal opinion with multiple ideas over the Constitution and Law," said Viva.

Therefore, Viva invites all parties to end the discourse. Because, he said, the discourse on Jokowi's candidacy to become a vice presidential candidate in the 2024 election has been used by several parties to discredit Jokowi, who is currently focusing on work.

"President Jokowi is focusing on working hard to increase national economic growth, improve people's welfare, and strengthen democratic institutions. Never mind, just end the counter-productive discourse for common sense," concluded Viva.

Previously, MK spokesman Fajar Laksono issued a statement which then reaped polemics. Fajar said that there were no regulations prohibiting Joko Widodo (Jokowi) from running as a vice presidential candidate in the 2024 presidential election.

According to Fajar, Article 7 of the 1945 Constitution explains that the President and Vice President hold office for 5 years, and thereafter can be re-elected in the same position, only for one term.

"The 1945 Law does not explicitly regulate. I do not in the context of saying whether it is permissible or not. I only convey, which is explicitly regulated in the 1945 Constitution regarding the president or vice president serving 5 years, and thereafter can be re-elected for 1 period in the same position," Fajar said in a written statement on Monday, September 12. Later, the Constitutional Court clarified the spokesman's statement.

"The statement regarding the issue is not an official statement and is not related to the implementation of the authority of the Indonesian Constitutional Court," said a written statement from the Public Relations of the Constitutional Court, Thursday, September 15.