Bella Evanglista Mikaputri, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo let the public know on Wednesday that he has been following the ongoing social media conversations about alleged government interference in the upcoming gubernatorial elections.
Critics have linked Jokowi to these allegations while referencing his previous career as a furniture maker, suggesting that his political coalition is trying to overturn a recent court ruling aimed at easing the requirements for political parties to nominate gubernatorial candidates.
In Jakarta, a coalition of 12 political parties has nominated Ridwan Kamil for governor, leaving his rival, Anies Baswedan, short of the necessary support to run. Under the current rules, a party or coalition must secure 25 percent of the popular vote or hold 20 percent of seats in the provincial legislature to nominate a candidate.
However, the Constitutional Court ruled on Tuesday to lower this threshold to 7.5 percent of the popular vote, allowing the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the last major party to declare a candidate, to now nominate one on its own. This ruling has given Anies renewed hope for his gubernatorial bid, which was previously impossible under the original rules.
Anies is widely regarded as a staunch critic of the Jokowi government.
In response, political parties in the House of Representatives have begun drafting a new law to challenge the court's decision, which many view as an attempt to block any serious challenge to Ridwan Kamil's candidacy.
Speaking at the Golkar Party congress on Wednesday evening, Jokowi firmly denied any involvement in these political developments.
"Social media has been buzzing for days about the court's decision on the local elections. When I checked, the main target of their criticism was 'the carpenter.' You know who they're talking about," Jokowi said.
Jokowi, who once owned a furniture business before his political rise from mayor of Solo to the presidency, has often been referred to as "the carpenter" by his critics. He has never shied away from his past and frequently shares his journey from furniture maker to president during public appearances.
"The court's ruling was made by the judiciary, and the discussions are now happening in the legislature. Yet, somehow, the focus of public debate remains 'the carpenter,'" Jokowi said. "As president, I represent the executive branch, and I fully respect the judiciary and legislative branches and their respective authorities."
Jokowi's presence in online discussions has also been fueled by speculation surrounding his youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep, as a potential candidate for the Central Java gubernatorial race.
Kaesang's candidacy is currently hindered by a minimum age requirement of 30 years old, but lawmakers are considering an amendment that could allow him to run.
Conflicting rulings between the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court have complicated the issue of Kaesang's eligibility. The Supreme Court has stated that the minimum age must be met by the time the election winner is sworn into office, while the Constitutional Court insists the age requirement must be met by the registration date of September 22. Born on December 25, 1994, Kaesang does not meet the requirement under the current law.
Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/jokowi-addresses-social-media-buzz-over-carpenter-allegation