Reject Two Axis In The 2024 Presidential Election, Called Potential For Polarization Like 2014 And 2019

Presidential Candidates in the 2024 Presidential Election (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly, Hidayat Nur Wahid (HNW), opposed the issue of only two axes between the presidential and vice presidential candidate pairs in the 2024 presidential election.

According to HNW, political contestation that only includes two pairs of presidential and vice-presidential candidates will repeat the polarization or divided society. This has been proven in the 2014 and 2019 presidential elections, where there are only two competing presidential candidates, namely Joko Widodo and Prabowo Subianto.

"Yesterday, many demanded to the Constitutional Court (MK) to correct the provisions of the 20 percent Presidential Threshold because it resulted in polarization as happened in the 2014 and 2019 presidential elections which were generally rejected by the Indonesian people," said HNW in his statement, Sunday, September 24.

So, according to HNW, parties who want the 2024 presidential election to only be followed by two pairs of candidates, they do not respect the people's right to have the best alternative choice of leader and do not care for constitutional democratic principles.

"In fact, it can also be considered as wanting to continue polarization and division which is rejected by the majority of Indonesian citizens, which occurs due to the presidential election only followed by two candidates," he explained.

HNW does not deny that the presidential election that the two candidate pairs participate in will save election costs because it can be held in one round. However, according to him, the state does need to spend more money so that polarization does not occur.

"Democracy does need a fee, but if what you want is the cheapest cost, then just go back to the pattern of the presidential election during the New Order era, where the President was elected by the MPR. What of course they refuse too," he said.

Moreover, HMW views that the current map of coalitions of political parties has actually led to the presence of three pairs of candidates.

Among them are Anies Baswedan and Muhaimin Iskandar who were promoted by the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the National Democratic Party (Nasdem) and the National Awakening Party (PKB).

Then, Prabowo Subianto was promoted by the Gerindra Party, the Golkar Party and the National Mandate Party (PAN), and the Democratic Party. Then, Ganjar Pranowo was promoted by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) and the United Development Party (PPP).

The coalition of parties that have the right to nominate the President has actually led to not only two pairs of presidential candidates, but also the possibility of three pairs of candidates. "Just waiting for the courage of the two babakpres Ganjar and Prabowo to immediately declare the pair of vice presidents," he said.

Rumors about the two axiss of candidate pairs in the 2024 presidential election were mentioned by the Deputy Chairperson of the PKB, Jazilul Fawaid. According to Jazilul, in the registration of presidential and vice presidential candidates, there will be opportunities for only two pairs of candidates.

One of the axes, continued Jazilul, is the pair Anies Baswedan and Muhaimin Iskandar promoted by the NasDem Party, the National Awakening Party (PKB), and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).

"I see it personally, there are not necessarily three axes, it could be two axes, we'll wait for it later," Jazilul said on Monday, September 18.