JAKARTA — President Prabowo Subianto, who also serves as the General Chairman of the Gerindra Party, recently gave his support to the candidate pair for Governor and Deputy Governor of Central Java Ahmad Luthfi and Taj Yasin in the 2024 regional elections.
The move does not violate any applicable legal rules. Experts and officials have stressed that the support is President Prabowo’s political right as the head of a political party and does not cause any legal problems or violations.
Head of the Presidential Communications Office, Hasan Nasbi, explained that there are no regulations prohibiting Prabowo from campaigning for regional head candidates.
According to him, as the General Chair of Gerindra, President Prabowo has the authority to provide recommendations and support the candidates nominated by his party.
“There is no rule prohibiting Mr. Prabowo from endorsing candidates. Mr. Prabowo is the party’s general chairman. As the party’s general chairman, he signs recommendations to nominate regional head candidates. That means he supports certain candidates,” said Hasan.
Hasan added that neutrality in regional elections is only required for the TNI/Polri and state civil apparatus (ASN).
Ministers and state officials from political parties, including the President, are still allowed to support certain candidates as long as they do not use state facilities or do so on working days without leave.
“The President and state officials may participate in the campaign, provided that they do not abuse their official facilities to campaign, or campaign on working days without applying for leave,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs, Budi Gunawan, also paid attention to this issue.
According to him, as Head of State, President Prabowo continues to show a neutral attitude. Budi revealed that the support given by Prabowo to the candidate pair did not interfere with the principle of neutrality in the regional elections.
“Now our task is to remind state administrators to be neutral and fair so that this election is safe, smooth and successful,” said Budi.
Al Azhar University of Indonesia academic, Ujang Komarudin, assessed that Prabowo’s actions as General Chairman of Gerindra were part of his political rights.
The support does not violate the law and is not a form of political intervention. “The video support delivered by Prabowo Subianto is not an intervention or political interference and does not conflict with the law,” Ujang explained.
President Prabowo’s move to provide support in the 2024 Pilkada is considered a legitimate action and in accordance with his role as General Chair of Gerindra, without violating the applicable Pilkada provisions.
