Alfitria Nefi P, Jakarta – The Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) in Central Java is investigating a short video clip that appears to show President Prabowo Subianto endorsing the Ahmad Luthfi-Taj Yasin ticket in the upcoming Central Java gubernatorial election.
"That's preliminary information," said Muhammad Amin, Chair of Bawaslu Central Java, in a WhatsApp message on Monday, November 11, 2024.
Amin stated that Bawaslu is currently gathering information from the social media account that uploaded the video and verifying the authenticity of the account with the General Election Commission (KPU).
"We are investigating whether the voice in the video is indeed the President's," Amin added.
The former special staff of Bawaslu RI noted that the investigation was conducted due to the involvement of the nation's highest office.
The video, uploaded to Instagram on Saturday, November 9, 2024, shows President Jokowi, Luthfi Hasan Ishaaq, and Taj Yasin Maimoen in a single frame, all wearing blue shirts. In the video, the President urges Central Java residents to vote for the Ahmad Luthfi-Taj Yasin ticket, supported by the Indonesian Advanced Coalition for Progress (Koalisi Indonesia Maju).
"I urge the people of Central Java to vote for Ahmad Luthfi-Taj Yasin," the President said in the video uploaded by the @luthfiyasinofficial account.
The 8th President expressed confidence in Ahmad Luthfi and Taj Yasin's ability to lead Central Java, highlighting their experience and compatibility. He emphasized that a strong partnership between the central and regional governments would benefit the province.
Presidential leave and campaign ethics
Responding to the video, Gerindra Party Secretary General Ahmad Muzani confirmed that President Prabowo had expressed support for the Ahmad Luthfi-Taj Yasin ticket. Muzani said that the President is allowed to campaign as long as he is on leave and does not use state facilities.
"Campaigning, in the sense of calling, urging, and inviting people to choose a candidate in a regional election, is permissible as long as it is done while on leave," Muzani said in a written statement on Saturday, November 9, 2024.
Regarding the procedures for presidential leave during the campaign period, KPU Commissioner August Mellaz referred to Article 281 paragraph 1 of Law Number 7 of 2017, which allows the President and regional heads to participate in campaigns while on leave, provided they do not use state facilities.
Gerindra Party Vice Chair Rahayu Saraswati also defended the President's endorsement of the Ahmad Luthfi-Taj Yasin ticket, stating that it is legitimate as long as he does not utilize his presidential position or state facilities.
As of now, the Presidential Communication Office has not issued an official statement regarding the video. The head of the Presidential Communication Office Heru Budi Hartono has not responded to inquiries from Tempo.
In the Central Java gubernatorial election, candidate number 2 Ahmad Luthfi-Taj Yasin will compete against candidate number 1, Andika Perkasa-Hendrar Prihadi.
[Novali Panji Nugroho and Advist Khoirunikmah contributed to the writing of this article.]