Bawaslu Bilang Anies Curi Start Campaign, NasDem: Kalau Masa Perkenalan Short, Kita Kembali Beli Cat Dalam Kalung

Anies Baswedan (Photo via Facebook)

JAKARTA - The NasDem Party has denied that its presidential candidate, Anies Baswedan, will steal the campaign start during a political safari to regions in Indonesia, as the Indonesian Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) calls. NasDem argued that Anies only made introductions to the public.

"There is no start yet, what was stolen? Because what Anies and NasDem have done so far is not a campaign, we are just making introductions," said NasDem DPP chairman Willy Aditya, Friday, December 16. According to Willy, Indonesia is very broad, so it is necessary to socialize Anies as a candidate for future leader. NasDem, he said, just didn't want the public to lack information about the presidential candidate they wanted.

"If the introduction is only carried out in a short period of time, of course we will buy back cats in sacks, which do not have adequate information about who will lead us," explained Willy. Willy also considers Anies' introduction as one of the political education efforts towards society. Because, according to him, in every meeting there is a dialogue that will be input for Anies and NasDem in the future. "So what NasDem is doing is political education by NasDem to the public. Where in every friendship Mas Anies and NasDem conduct dialogues with many people, groups and groups to dialogue about what are aspirations and how to find solutions," he added. However, Willy appreciated Bawaslu for not sanctioning Anies. Because indeed, he said, Anies did not commit campaign violations because there was no presidential candidate determination by the KPU. "But of course we appreciate what was the result of Bawaslu. It's like not, kick off yet, how is there a violation?," said Willy. Previously, the General Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) called Anies Baswedan unethical because he stole the campaign start by carrying out activities in Aceh some time ago.

"In terms of political ethics, AB (Anies Baswedan)'s political safari activities can be seen as an unethical act. (Because) they have carried out covert campaign activities and seem to steal startings in campaigning as presidential candidates in the 2024 presidential election," said Bawaslu Puadi member at the Indonesian Bawaslu Office, Jakarta, Thursday, December 15. Bawaslu has also investigated the report against Anies. However, Bawaslu did not sentence Anies because he did not find any violations in the incident in Aceh on December 2.

Puadi explained that there were no violations because there had been no presidential candidates for the 2024 presidential election. Although, he said, the public already knew that Anies was a potential presidential candidate that had been declared by several parties.