FAJAR.CO.ID, MAKASSAR — Jokowi’s statement that the president can campaign and take sides is in the public spotlight. This also has many pros and cons.
Unhas political observer, Ali Armunanto, said whether the president is allowed to campaign or not is regulated in the 2017 election law.
“This is regulated in the 2017 election law, and the article is clear. The president or state officials who want to campaign must take leave outside the state’s responsibility and not use state facilities,” said Ali, Friday (26/1/2024).
Ali emphasized that President Jokowi could campaign but had to take leave outside the state’s responsibility.
“The rules are clear, so if Jokowi wants to campaign he has to take leave first. You can’t do it while he’s on duty and then campaign,” stressed Ali.
Not only that, another provision that is stipulated is that the president or state officials cannot campaign using state facilities or state money.
“For example, there is a presidential visit where he endorses Prabowo, which is not permissible and violates because he uses his position and state facilities to campaign,” he explained.
According to Ali, it is fine for Jokowi to campaign as long as the context is outside his job as president.
“In my opinion, this attitude (taking sides) is not shown in state activities, where he is in the capacity of president,” he continued.
However, if he is on a personal level, Jokowi could take sides and campaign. Because the president has two different sides. Whether he is a president or an ordinary human being.
“But the capacity of a private house, outside of the work environment, I don’t think it matters, the president also has two sides. He is either the president or an ordinary human being,” explained Ali.
