Mahfud Md: Political Dynasty Exists Everywhere in the World

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Vice presidential candidate number three Mahfud Md responded to the issue of political dynasty. According to him, political dynasty exists all over the world. This becomes a problem if a political dynasty is used to manipulate the law for the involved party's own interest.

Mahfud gave examples of Mahatma Gandhi's dynasty in India and Kennedy's in the United States.

"Mahatma Gandhi, then Indira Gandhi, then Rajiv Gandhi. In the United States, there was Kennedy and Bush. It's everywhere," he said during the Tabrak Prof event on Thursday as virtually observed from Mahfud Md's YouTube channel.

The problem with political dynasties emerges if they manipulate the law and fail to fight for public interest. Leaders in a political dynasty would do anything to further extend their dynasty's grip on the country. 

"That's prohibited and quite frankly distasteful if done by the government of a country as big as Indonesia," he said.

Mahfud Md's statement was in response to a question asked by one of the Tabrak Prof participants, Bela. "Political dynasties, turns out have been banned once in Indonesia, then was submitted [for review] to the Constitutional Court]. The ban was then revoked. However, it used to that state leaders, their kids, their uncles, nephews was not allowed to run for candidates for fear of conflict of interest," Bela said.

YOHANES JOHARSO MAHARSOYO

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