Savero Aristia Wienanto, Jakarta – Yusril Ihza Mahendra, a member of Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka's winning team responded to criticism over President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's statement on president partiality during general elections.
According to the constitutional law expert, there is yet an ethical guideline defining the neutrality of a president. Yusril stressed that whether a president is taking sides in the general elections is a subjective assessment.
"Even less than perfect manner is deemed "unethical". And now ethics is being related to political interest," he said in a written statement on Wednesday.
Yusril said Jokowi's partiality is a philosophical matter that must have been discussed during the conception of General Elections Law No. 7 of 2017. According to him, if the ethics of Jokowi's position is being defined as a professional guideline, the norm must be developed under the mandate of a law.
"Just like the ethics code for lawyers, doctors, judges, civil state apparatus, and other professions. The enforcement must be conducted by an ethics council," he said.
Previously, Jokowi made a statement that presidents may take sides and campaign during general elections, as long as they do not abuse state facilities.
"President may campaign. We may take sides. We are a public official, as well as politicians. [How come] we are not permitted to [campaign and take sides]," Jokowi said after delivering fighter jets to the Indonesian Military with Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday.
Important to note that despite never actually declaring his support for certain running candidates in the February 14 general elections, Jokowi's oldest son Gibran Rakabuming Raka is running for contesting as vice presidential candidate along with Prabowo Subianto.
Jokowi's statement, declared during an event with the Defense Ministry under Prabowo, is believed to be a sign of support for the pair.
Meanwhile, Gibran was able to run for the election thanks to the decision of the Constitutional Court or MK headed by Anwar Usman, his own uncle. Recently, the MK Ethics Council found that the decision was marred with a grave ethical violation.