Government Commits to Maintaining Neutrality During Regional Elections
The Indonesian government, under the leadership of President Joko Widodo, is committed to maintaining neutrality during the 2024 Pilkada. In the midst of various emerging issues and challenges, this step was taken to ensure that every vote expressed through the ballot box truly reflects the will of the people.
Jokowi firmly denies accusations that he offered the name of his youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep, who is also the General Chair of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), to be nominated in the Jakarta Pilkada.
This attitude of neutrality shows that regional elections are the domain of political parties and not the president’s business. Through this commitment, Jokowi wants to ensure that the democratic process runs according to the rules and without intervention from the executive.
Jokowi’s statement responded to accusations by the Secretary General of PKS, Aboe Bakar Al Habsyi, who said that the President offered Kaesang’s name to run for the Jakarta Pilkada. Jokowi firmly denied this and stated that he had never given his son’s name to any political party. Regional elections, according to him, are entirely a matter for political parties.
In Karawang, West Java, Jokowi emphasized that he was not the party chairman or party owner, so the matter of nominating the regional elections had nothing to do with him. The accusations of promiscuity in the regional election process that were leveled at him were also clearly denied. Jokowi wants the democratic process to run well and without interference from the executive.
Kaesang Pangarep, as General Chair of PSI, also rejected these accusations. He emphasized that the decision regarding who would run to represent PSI in the regional elections was entirely within his authority.
Kaesang stated that he had the authority to determine which candidate would be promoted by PSI. He added that many parties had come to PSI to ask for support in the DKI Pilkada, but the final decision remained in his hands.
Jokowi’s move shows the government’s efforts to maintain neutrality and ensure that the regional election process runs according to the rules. This commitment is also proof that the government wants to avoid all forms of intervention that could damage the democratic process. Pilkada is the domain of political parties, and every decision regarding the candidate to be nominated must come from the party itself, not from the executive.
The views of the Executive Director of Indonesian Political Parameters, Adi Prayitno, also strengthen Jokowi’s position on this matter. Adi stated that Jokowi’s influence in the regional head candidate candidacy process was still strong, but that did not mean that Jokowi intervened directly.
According to him, this influence is the result of Jokowi’s position as president who still has political appeal. However, this does not guarantee that the candidate supported by Jokowi will win the regional elections.
In this context, Jokowi’s commitment to maintaining neutrality is very important to ensure that the democratic process runs well. The government’s neutrality in regional elections will help strengthen public trust in the democratic process and ensure that every candidate running in regional elections is selected based on qualifications and support from political parties, not because of interference from the executive.
We need to understand that regional elections are one of the important moments in Indonesian democracy. Active participation of political parties in determining which candidates to nominate is the essence of democracy itself. Therefore, a neutral attitude from the government is very important to ensure that the regional election process runs fairly and transparently.
Apart from that, it is also important for the public to understand that accusations of girls leveled against the president must be viewed critically. Any accusations must be based on clear evidence and not mere assumptions or speculation. The government, in this case, must continue to be committed to maintaining neutrality and ensuring that the regional election process runs in accordance with applicable regulations.
Jokowi has emphasized that he is not the party chairman or party owner, so there is no reason for him to be involved in the nomination process in the regional elections. This attitude shows that the government wants to ensure that every process in the regional elections runs smoothly and without intervention from the executive.
The government’s commitment to maintaining neutrality during the 2024 regional elections is an important step in strengthening democracy in Indonesia. By maintaining neutrality, the government can ensure that the democratic process runs fairly and transparently, so that public trust in the democratic process becomes stronger.
Let’s maintain Indonesian democracy by ensuring that every regional election process takes place fairly and transparently. Active participation of the public in the democratic process is essential to ensure that each individual’s voice is valued and respected.
As citizens, we have a responsibility to maintain the integrity of the democratic process and ensure that regional head elections run smoothly. Let’s support this commitment and ensure that the regional elections run well for the sake of a better future for Indonesian democracy.
)* Contributor to Nusantara Reading Room
