JK Reminds Jokowi After Not Inviteing NasDem To The Palace: Don't Get Too Far Involve Yourself In Politics

PKB Chairman Muhaimin Iskandar or familiarly called Cak Imin when he arrived at the residence of senior Golkar Party politician Jusuf Kalla/ANTARA/Tri Meilani Ameliya

JAKARTA - The 10th and 12th Vice Presidents of the Republic of Indonesia Jusuf Kalla reminded President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) not to involve himself further in political matters. The warning was delivered after Jokowi did not invite the NasDem Party to a meeting of parties supporting the government at the Merdeka Palace, Tuesday, May 2.

Initially, JK said it was natural for political parties supporting the government to be invited to the Palace but to discuss national development.

"When the meeting talks, because this is at the Palace, talking about development matters, that's only natural," JK told reporters at his residence at Jalan Brawijaya Number 06, South Jakarta, Saturday, May 6.

However, JK assessed that NasDem should still be invited. Moreover, if the discussion is said to discuss the issue of national development.

"When it comes to development, Nasdem must be invited. It means that there are political talks," he said.

With these conditions, Jokowi was reminded not to interfere too far in political dynamics. JK reminded him to act like the fifth President of the Republic of Indonesia Megawati Soekarnoputri and the Sixth President of the Republic of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) ahead of the end of his term of office as head of state.

"In my opinion, the President should be like Mega's mother, SBY, it will end, so it doesn't get too far involved in liking or dislike in politics. To make it more democratic," he said.

Previously, President Joko Widodo admitted that he did not invite the NasDem Party in a meeting with the general chairman of a government-supporting political party at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta on Tuesday night, May 2. The reason is that NasDem already has its own coalition and carries the former Governor of DKI Jakarta Anies Baswedan.

Even so, Jokowi denied allegations that the invitation was to interfere in political affairs ahead of the 2024 General Election.

"A girl? Not a girl. It's a discussion. It's a discussion. Discussion, I'm a political official. I'm not a girl," said President Jokowi on the sidelines of his activities visiting the Sarinah shopping center, in Jakarta, Thursday, May 4.

Jokowi emphasized that the matter of nominating the President and Vice President in the 2024 presidential election is the domain of political parties or coalitions of political parties. However, he felt that it was legal to invite the general chairmen of coalition parties to discuss.

"If they invite me, (or, ed) I invite them, it's okay. What is the constitution that is violated from there? Nothing. Please understand that I am a politician as well as a public official," he said.