KPU Says Jokowi's Claim on Campaign Right Noted in Law

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Chairman of the General Elections Commission (KPU) Hasyim Asyari has spoken up about President Joko Widodo or Jokowi's statement that sitting ministers and president could participate in election campaigns and take sides.

“It is regulated in the election law. What the president said are the norms in the election law,” Hasyim said today, January 25 at Merlyn Park in Central Jakarta.

On January 24, the president cited Article 281 (1) of the Election Law, which states that a president and ministers are allowed to campaign for any election contestants as long as they do not use state facilities. He made the statement during a press conference after the handover ceremony of the new fighter jet to the Air Force at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in East Jakarta alongside Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, who is now running for president with his eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

When asked about ethics, Hasyim refused to comment and left the oversight matters to the Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu). 

“He passed on the articles in the law, so there’s no problem. Whether they take sides or not, whether they use state facilities or not, there is an institution that supervises the campaign activities,” Hasyim said.

Jokowi has faced criticism after making such statements. People are concerned about the potential for bias and fraud in the upcoming elections in February. Coordinator of the President's special staffer, Ari Dwipayana, clarified that the President’s statement had been misinterpreted, stressing that the latter not taking sides with a certain candidate pair and remained focused on work.

TIKA AYU

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