Rift Within Jokowi's Volunteers
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Editor
12 September 2022 10:00 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A number of Joko Widodo volunteer groups have different stands regarding the idea of an extended presidential term. Talks about Jokowi holding office for a third term are considered an illegitimate suggestion.
Not every volunteer group for Joko Widodo is in line with the idea of extending the presidential term. Jokowi Mania (Jorman), one of the President’s volunteer lines since the 2014 presidential election, declared that they would fight against any movement to make an extended presidential term a reality.
Jorman chairperson, Immanuel Ebenezer, firmly said he would disband the organization if such discourse continues to be echoed. “And we will lead [the movement] at the streets to fight against such an illegitimacy,” said Immanuel.
The discourse of extending Joko Widodo’s term of office, which is commonly known as Jokowi for three terms, arose again. This time, it was raised in the People's Conference (Musra) which is a forum staged by Pro Jokowi (Projo) volunteers at the Arcamanik Sports Center, Bandung, West Java, on August 30. Jokowi also attended the gathering.
Results from the meeting stated that the votes backing the former Solo Mayor were the highest compared to potential votes for other likely presidential candidates. Other popular internal presidential candidates they voted for, apart from Jokowi, were Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno with 968 votes, followed by Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo in third with 921 votes. Three other candidates from the people’s conference were Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, and West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil.
In the forum, Jokowi expressed his appreciation for his supporters who he claimed had listened to what the people aspire to, which include talks about extending his presidential term. “This is the people’s forum. People are allowed to voice their views right? It shouldn’t be a problem if someone speaks of three terms. That is just a discourse. Anyone is allowed to state their opinion,” said the President. However, he asserted his views to abide by the constitution that limits a president’s term. “Once again, I will always abide by the constitution and the people’s will.”
Immanuel Ebenezer hopes Jokowi would show assertiveness in putting an end to such an idea and encouraging his subordinates to no longer campaign for Jokowi’s third term extension. As a volunteer who backed the President, Immanuel said, Jorman does not intend to carry the political sin to future generations if it is forced to come to fruition.
He asserted that the constitution has limited a president’s term in office to two terms, which is mentioned in Article 7 of the 1945 Constitution. “This is a principle that we do not want to violate, and that a president’s term must be limited.”
