Palace Assures No Interference by Jokowi in Upcoming Regional Elections

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Presidential Special Staff Grace Natalie denies that President Joko Widodo or Jokowi will interfere in the 2024 regional elections as it is under political parties’ authority. 

Previously, PKS Secretary-General, Aboe Bakar Al Habsyi said Jokowi named his youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep, to several political parties for the regional elections. Grace Natalie denied the statement, claiming Jokowi has never suggested Kaesang’s name to any political party.

"The President does not interfere in regional elections at all," said Grace via short message on Thursday evening, June 27, 2024. "Mr. President is focused on carrying out his presidential duties until October."

However, the PKS SecGen confirmed that Jokowi had referred Kaesang to several political parties to run in the Jakarta regional election. Nevertheless, Aboe did not confirm nor deny whether his party was among those offered by Jokowi. 

Jokowi’s Alleged Interference on Regional Elections

Jokowi met with several party leaders at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on May 28. It was said that one of the agenda in their meeting was the regional elections. Tempo magazine first released the report on Jokowi’s alleged interference in the elections on June 17, 2024.

Party leaders present in the meeting include the Chair of the Gerindra Party Prabowo Subianto, General Chair of the Golkar Party Airlangga Hartarto, General Chair of the National Mandate Party Zulkifli Hasan, and General Chair of the Democratic Party Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono. 

Zulkifli Hasan confirmed that the meeting with Jokowi also discussed the regional elections. However, the minister claimed he was proposing Ridwan Kamil to the party leaders. "Everyone agrees," said the Minister of Trade on Friday, June 14, 2024.

Executive Director of Political Parameters, Adi Prayitno, said Jokowi at the tail-end of his office still has influence in election candidacy  "However there is no guarantee whether the candidate who will be put forward and approved will win," Adi told Tempo via WhatsApp message on Tuesday, June 18, 2024.

DANIEL A. FAJRI

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