Bawaslu Claims No Election Violation Found for Jokowi's Visits to Central Java During Campaign Period

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Head of the Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) of Central Java, Nur Kholiq, claimed that his side did not find any election violations related to President Joko Widodo or Jokowi's action in distributing social assistance across Central Java. The distribution was carried out in conjunction with the 2024 presidential election campaign period.

"Until today, there are no findings or reports [of election violations] related to the distribution of social assistance and President Jokowi's visit in Central Java," he said during witness statement at the election dispute hearing at the Constitutional Court on Wednesday.

According to him, Bawaslu of Central Java always takes preventive measures to ensure no election violations occur during state officials’ visits, including Jokowi.

"(The preventive measure) includes an appeal so the visit is not superimposed as a form of campaign that violates Law Number 7 of 2017," he said. 

He also emphasized that there were no reports or findings related to alleged violations from Jokowi's visits to Central Java. Therefore, his side concluded that there were no elements of violations committed by Jokowi regarding the distribution of social assistance. 

"We found no elements of alleged election violations, including no reports officially received by the Bawaslu of Central Java or at regency and city level of Bawaslu in Central Java," he said. 

Jokowi's distribution of social assistance came under scrutiny because it was done during the campaign period and overlapped with locations visited by his son's opponent, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the vice presidential candidate of Prabowo Subianto.

Take presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo’s visit to Central Java on January 15-17, 2024, as an example. At that time, Ganjar campaigned in Central Java by visiting Purbalingga, Banjarnegara, Pekalongan, Kendal, Cilacap, Banyumas, Brebes, and Tegal.

Ganjar had mentioned that a figure would follow in his footsteps in visiting Central Java in the week after his visit. "We'll see if someone will also come after I visit Central Java, we’ll see in a few days," said Ganjar in Kendal, on Wednesday, January 17, 2024.

Sure enough, President Jokowi and First Lady Iriana visited several areas in Central Java a few days after Ganjar campaigned there. The head of state visited Boyolali, Salatiga, Magelang, and Wonosobo on Monday, January 22, 2024. The President delivered food aid, inaugurated infrastructure, handed over land rights certificates for the people, and attended a rally of santri and students in different areas.

DEFARA DHANYA PARAMITHA

Editor’s Choice: Anies Baswedan Camp Says Presidential Election Re-run Is Most Likely   

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News