Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Media magnate and top politician Surya Paloh said he was open to the possibility of amending the 1945 Constitution that limits presidential terms to two periods, so that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo can be elected for a third time.

The constitution itself has been amended several times to accommodate democratic principles after long-serving president Soeharto's resignation in 1998. The key amendments include the introduction of direct presidential elections and the presidential term limits.

However, the chairman of the National Democrat (NasDem) Party told BeritaSatu TV's Claudius Boekan that presidential term limits were not a rigid article in the constitution and could be amended.

"To be honest, if all political parties agree with [the amendment], then why should I disagree?" Surya said in the interview, aired on Friday night.

"Everything can be evaluated depending on changes and needs of the present situation. The 1945 Constitution has gone through four amendments, so there is nothing wrong with another one or two."

Article 7 of the original 1945 Constitution stipulates that a president can be reelected after serving a five-year term without providing a specific limit. The amendment says a citizen can be elected president only two times.

Even if the presidential election is returned to the vote counting among People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) members as it was during the Soeharto's 32-year rule, Surya said he would also accept that.

"The one who will disagree most is the pollster, because election by the MPR won't need any survey [of candidate]," the owner of renowned news network Metro TV said.

Surya, who on Monday was reelected as party chairman by acclamation, said any plan for an amendment should get approval from the public.

"We have until the next three years to get responses from all elements of the communities. If they accept the idea, then I will not oppose," he said.

But if a majority of the people rejects the amendment, Surya said he would come to term with that as well. "I have a moderate thought on this issue," he told Claudius.

Humble leader

Surya spoke highly of Jokowi during the interview, to such an extent that the president's reelection in April was more important than NasDem's legislative election outcomes.

"Jokowi's leadership is more important than our pragmatical interests. It would have been meaningless for NasDem to double our seats in the DPR [House of Representatives] if Jokowi had not been reelected," Surya said.

He praised Jokowi as a "humble leader" who has never changed even after rising through the ranks from a mayor to governor to president.

Surya shared an intimate moment with Jokowi when both men met during the closing ceremony of NasDem's national congress in Jakarta on Monday.

When delivering speech on the stage, Jokowi said he wanted Surya to hug him, after the media sensation triggered by the photograph of the NasDem chairman hugging Sohibul Iman, chairman of main opposition the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), in an earlier encounter.

Surya responded to the request by embracing Jokowi as the president was leaving the stage. Surya, 68, said he had no ambition to become a presidential candidate himself.

"Maybe 20 years ago I wanted [to become president]. But now I know my moment is over, my muscles aren't as strong as they used to be," he said. "And I realize there are many other people more capable than me, while I'm getting older."

He also said there was no sight of any NasDem executives who had the potential to become a presidential candidate at the time being.

Surya founded NasDem in July 2011 and the party managed to win 36 House seats in its election debut in 2014. It did even better in April's election, winning 59 seats. He has been chairing NasDem since January 2013.

Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/surya-paloh-open-to-constitutional-amendment-for-jokowis-3rd-term