Jakarta — In the context of healthy politics and democracy, the President has the right to express support and engage in political campaigns as long as he complies with the applicable legal rules. Gerindra Party Daily Chair, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, emphasized that as a citizen, the President also has the right to convey his political support to a particular candidate as long as he follows the established rules.
“The President has the right to declare support or campaign as long as he follows the applicable rules, including taking leave while campaigning,” Dasco said. According to him, even though he serves as the leader of the country, the President does not lose his right to support candidates who are considered to be able to bring progress. The condition is that it remains in accordance with the laws and regulations, such as taking leave while campaigning.
Dasco added that during the campaign period, the President also has the right to call for support and invite the public to vote for certain candidates who are believed to have a vision that is in line with the direction of national development. “During the campaign, the President can call for and invite the public to vote for certain candidate pairs as long as they are in accordance with the laws and regulations,” he added.
In supporting regional head candidates, Prabowo Subianto, who is also the General Chairman of the Gerindra Party, recently gave his support to the candidate pair for governor and deputy governor of Central Java number 2, Ahmad Luthfi and Taj Yasin. The Head of the Presidential Communications Office, Hasan Nasbi, explained that this support was conveyed by Prabowo not in his capacity as a state official, but as the General Chairman of the Gerindra Party.
“Prabowo’s invitation to support candidate pair number 2 in Central Java was conveyed in his capacity as the General Chair of the Gerindra Party,” said Hasan. Hasan’s statement also reinforces that when following the applicable rules, state officials, including the President, have the right to show their support.
Academician of Al Azhar University Indonesia, Ujang Komarudin, added that the support conveyed by Prabowo did not conflict with the law. “The video of support conveyed by Prabowo Subianto is not an intervention or political interference and does not conflict with the law. The support was conveyed by Prabowo as the General Chairperson of the Gerindra Party which supported Ahmad Luthfi in the 2024 Central Java Pilkada,” said Ujang. According to Ujang, the freedom to show political support as long as it complies with the applicable rules is part of the rights guaranteed in democracy.
In a mature democracy, the head of state still has the right to participate in politics as long as it is in accordance with existing rules. Indonesians are urged to see this as part of a democratic process that provides space for all parties to express their opinions and provide support.