By: Asep Maulana )*
President Jokowi firmly rejected the proposed 3-term position. The reason is, according to the law, a president serves a maximum of 2 terms. The rules cannot be changed for certain political interests. Do not let this issue be exaggerated because it is not a proposal from the president himself.
Indonesia is a democracy but democracy was torn apart during the New Order era, when a country leader served for 32 years. So that in the 70-90s the leadership became authoritarian. Indeed, the law states that a president can serve again after being elected. However, after the fall of the New Order, there was a revision so that the maximum presidential term was 2 terms.
However, recently an issue has emerged like a hot ball saying that there will be a revision of the law which states that a president can be elected for up to 3 terms. The public was spontaneously surprised, especially since President Jokowi’s term ends in 2024 and this is his second term. So if this is true, he can fight again in the next presidential election.
President Jokowi’s spokesman Fadjroel Rahman stated that President Jokowi refused to serve for 3 terms. The reason is that he complied with the 1945 Constitution as the state constitution that regulates the presidential term of office for 2 terms. He is also loyal to the 1998 reforms. In a sense, it is impossible to amend the Constitution in order to increase the term of office of the president.
Fadjroel added, there is indeed a Jokowi-Prabowo (Jokpro) community which is said to be enlivening the 2021 presidential election, and is currently viral on social media. However, the president has nothing to do with this community. In a sense, this is just a form of people’s love to see how harmonious Mr. Jokowi and Prabowo are, even though in 2 presidential elections they were opposite.
The polemic about the term of office of RI-1 immediately led to accusations that the president wanted to take office again. However, he never suggested it. It could be that this issue is just a throw from the opposition who wants President Jokowi’s image to decline in the eyes of the public, by creating gossip and hoaxes that are not clear.
It could be that the emergence of proposals to increase the presidential term is from the people themselves. The reason is that they really love the figure of President Jokowi who is merciful and fatherly, and very caring for the people. The proof is that when the President visited various regions in Indonesia, he was very well received and applauded by all parties.
This is the first time that Indonesia has had a president who really understands the voices of the people and is quick to respond to problems in Indonesia, and makes fair decisions. So it could be that the people want the president to be Mr. Jokowi, again and again. Because of his love for our president.
However, the President firmly rejected the proposed 3-term position. Although he understands that this is a form of concern from the people, but as a good citizen, he will still obey the Constitution. So it is impossible to amend the 1945 Constitution just for the sake of increasing the term of office.
Let’s stop the polemic on the 3-term presidential term, considering that this is not the idea of President Jokowi or the people in the palace. The President will remain steadfast to end his term in 2024 and retire from the RI-1 position happily. Let someone else become President, so that there will be regeneration of the nation’s leaders.
President Jokowi has firmly rejected the proposed 3-term position and this should not be extended again. It is impossible for him to have ambitions to become RI-1 again, because he is obedient to the constitution and the 1945 Constitution. Amendments to the 1945 Constitution are only for important matters and not to revise the term of office of the Indonesian president.
)* The author is a contributor to Pertiwi Institute
