Ichsan Ali, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo calls for his statement, asserting his right to support candidates and engage in campaign activities, not to be turned into a controversy.
Jokowi said that the statement arose when a journalist asked him about the involvement of ministers in the campaign.
Jokowi explained that the involvement of the president, vice president, and ministers in campaigning has been regulated in the 2017 election law. The president urged that the regulation should not be pulled into a controversy.
"There was a question from a journalist regarding whether ministers are allowed to campaign or not. I conveyed the provisions of the legislation. I showed the election law, clearly stating in Article 299 that the president and vice president have the right to campaign. Clear?" Jokowi said as quoted on the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube channel, Friday.
The law outlines that the president, vice president, cabinet members, and other state officials can engage in campaign activities, either supporting their re-election or endorsing other candidates, but they need approval from the General Election Commission (KPU).
However, they are required to take a leave, limited to one day per week during the campaign period. Participating in rallies on national holidays and weekends does not necessitate taking leave.
To maintain fairness, the law explicitly forbids the utilization of state facilities during campaign rallies, encompassing vehicles, buildings, official residences, and communication equipment. Moreover, it strictly prohibits the use of the state budget and other government financial sources in political rallies.
"The law is clear, don't make a controversy out of this. Election campaigns involving the president and vice president must comply with the provisions of not using facilities in their positions except security facilities and taking leave outside the state's responsibility," Jokowi explained.
"Everything is clear. Don't misinterpret it. I'm just conveying the provisions of the legislation because I was asked," he added.
Constitutional law expert Radian Syam from Trisakti University said that the president has the right to campaign for a specific presidential candidate in the 2024 presidential election.
"It's perfectly legitimate for the president to participate in campaigning, as long as it complies with the legal provisions of the Election Law. One of these provisions is the prohibition on using state facilities during campaigns," Radian said.
Previously, President Jokowi said that the president is allowed to take sides and campaign in presidential elections as long as state facilities are not used.
Jokowi's statement was made in front of Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto after the handover of the Super Hercules C-130J A-1344 aircraft at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base on Wednesday.