Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —
General Chairman Jokowi Volunteers Mania (Joman) Immanuel Ebenezer or Noel proposes that President Joko Widodo’s term extended 2 to 3 years.
Noel reasoned that the prolonged state of emergency of the corona virus (Covid-19) pandemic made the Jokowi government not work optimally for the people.
“So the duration of the presidential term being increased for 2 to 3 years could be a solution. This is different from the discourse of the president for 3 periods, which must go through elections,” said Noel in his official statement, Thursday (2/9).
Noel added that Jokowi’s term of office, which now has 3 years remaining, will not be enough to execute pro-people policies.
“Jokowi must be given the opportunity to work optimally,” he said.
According to Noel, the discourse on the addition of Jokowi’s term of office can be realized through amendments to the 1945 Constitution.
The requirement to amend the 1945 Constitution must be proposed by at least one third of the total members of the MPR or 237 of the 711 members of the DPR and DPD. Noel believes that the conditions are not difficult for Jokowi’s coalition of political parties.
He projects that there will be two articles in the 1945 Constitution that will change. Namely inserting the paragraph extending the term of office of the president in an emergency in Article 7. As well as adding the authority of the MPR to determine the extension of the term of office of the president and vice president in an emergency.
“Automatically, if the term of office is extended by 2 or 3 years. Then the positions of the DPR and DPD and below are also extended,” said Noel.
“Election requires very large funds. Therefore, during a pandemic, it is better for elections to be used for the benefit of revitalizing the economy and stimulating pro-people social action,” he added.
The discourse of extending the term of the presidency is indeed circulating in the community. The dominant discourse is to add the presidency to three terms. Instead of extending the presidency to 2 or 3 years.
Regarding the discourse of these three periods, Jokowi has openly rejected it. Jokowi emphasized that he had no intention of serving as president for three terms.
He stated that he would continue to abide by the 1945 Constitution (UUD) as the state constitution which governs the term of office of the president for two periods.
“I reiterate, I have no intention. I have no interest in becoming president for three terms. The constitution mandates two terms. We must protect it together,” said Jokowi, Monday (15/3).
A number of parties also rejected the three-term discourse, including PDIP, which is the main party supporting Jokowi.
As for the constitutional amendments, a number of parties have expressed their support. PDIP supports as long as the process is not rushed. The chairman of the MPR and the chairman of the DPD also pushed for constitutional amendments. Meanwhile, PAN calls for an evaluation of the results of past amendments.
(rzr/wis)
– .
