Cabinet Secretary Acknowledges Calls to Extend Jokowi's Term

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung on Monday acknowledged the existence of groups that continue to try to promote President Joko Widodo, or Jokowi’s extended presidential term but denies that this movement comes from the Presidential Palace. 

“There are those who continue to try for the sake of trying. But as we all know, changing the amendment is not easy and opens up the pandora’s box. I am certain that this will be a lesson as I was part of the 1999 amendment,” said Pramono in a work meeting with Commission II legislators at the House of Representatives (DPR) headquarters on April 4. 

He asserted that Jokowi had openly responded by committing to adhere to the constitution that limits the presidential term to a maximum of two periods. 

“The President addressed this publicly four times that he would adhere to the constitution. I am sure what he expressed was pretty clear for the members of the public to perceive,” he added. 

Pramono assures that the country has no budgets to support any agendas that are linked to the movement. 

Meanwhile, political expert and Political Review executive director Ujang Komarudin on April 3 says Jokowi’s statements regarding this issue has never blatantly and firmly refused to approve movements calling to amend the constitution, which could somewhat be a loophole towards the agenda of extending the presidential term. 

Read: Presidential Staff Office Responds to Declaration for Jokowi's Third Term

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