President Jokowi Firmly Denounces Discourse to Delay 2024 Elections

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - In a plenary cabinet session aired live by the Presidential Secretariat office in Youtube on Wednesday, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo scolded his state ministers who had actively promoted the discourse on postponing the 2024 general elections. He addressed this issue in a meeting that is attended by every state minister and government institution leaders at the State Palace. 

“No one should try to speak about delaying [the elections], extending the presidential term. No more!,” said the President in his acceptance speech at the cabinet meeting on April 6. 

He argues that the country is facing a challenging situation caused by the rising fuel prices up to increasing prices of basic commodities, which is why he strongly urged his state ministers to focus on reducing people’s burden. 

Jokowi also strongly called for state officials to express sympathy towards the situation that the people are currently going through.

"Express it in the language of the people on what steps the government has taken in dealing with the crisis and rising inflation, and don't cause more problems. Focus on working in dealing with the difficulties we face," he warned. 

The public discourse of postponing the 2024 general elections was initially heavily promoted by PKB chairperson Muhaimin Iskandar and Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto. The two men claim it represents the voices of the people. 

Coordinating Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan also followed suit by claiming he has ‘big data’ that would back this idea. He recently claimed to have data from millions of people online who want Jokowi to serve a third presidential term. However, Luhut has failed to publish the supposed big data to the public. 

Read: Jokowi Bemoans State Ministers' Silence Amid Fuel, Cooking Oil Price Hike

M JULNIS FIRMANSYAH