TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Functional Group (Golkar) Party chairman of central executive board Ace Hasan Syadzily hoped Vice President Jusuf Kalla (JK) could keep supporting President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in the 2019 presidential election despite the latter could not run as a vice presidential candidate.
“I have faith that Pak JK will be part of Pak Jokowi’s team,” said Ace in Cikini, Jakarta, Saturday, June 30.
JK was considered as the running mate of Jokowi for the election next year. Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) executive member Puan Maharani said her party was currently studying the possibility.
However, based on Article 169 (n) and Article 227 (i) of Law Npo. 7/2017 on General Election, it stipulated that a vice president could only serve for only two periods.
Many institutions named Perkumpulan Rakyat Proletar untuk Konstitusi and Federasi Serikat Pekerja Singaperbangsa as well as the individual had sued the regulation. Hence, the Constitutional Court rejected the report on Thursday, June 28, 2018.
Ace stated the coalition party supporting the government expected Jusuf Kalla to back Jokowi as president considering JK and Jokowi had a good relationship for the past five years ruling the country.
According to Ace, JK had a strong role in Jokowi’s achievement during these five years. Ace assessed JK showed his loyalty to the president. “It’s unfortunate if Jokowi and JK in the 2019 presidential election cannot be on the same boat,” he said.
SYAFIUL HADI
