Jakarta – Civil society groups and the opposition suspect that the idea of postponing the 2024 legislative and presidential elections, which will impact on extending the president's term in office, has originated from a certain figure, not directly from any of the political parties.
Muhammadiyah Central Leadership Board Chairperson Abdul Mu'ti claims to have obtained information that there is a certain party which is pressuring the political parties to speak out about postponing the 2024 elections.
"Certainly, there is a great deal of speculation because some are saying that it's the initiative of the leaderships of the political parties themselves. But I've heard voices in the wind [rumors], the wind could be a storm, it could be a tail-wind, it could be on and off, that there is indeed a desire on the part of a certain person who wants the elections to be postponed", he said during a webinar on Saturday February 26.
"There's no need to cite the name of this person, perhaps the [political party] chairpersons know, but I've been communicating with several parties who say there's pressure from a certain party on the political parties to speak out about postponing the 2024 elections", he continued.
What is clear, for Mu'ti, is that postponing the elections will have an impact on extending the terms of the president as well as the House of Representatives (DPR).
"A postponement of the elections would have consequences for the extension of terms in office of the president, the vice president, then the cabinet, the DPR, the MPR [People's Consultative Assembly], level one and two Regional House of Representatives, and public positions related to these", explained Mu'ti.
Speaking in the same vein, Andalas University constitutional law expert Feri Amsari believes that the proposal to postpone the 2024 elections has come from President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.
"It's not possible for the [political] parties to convey this openly, because it's against the constitution, so it's impossible that it's not the desire of a president, it's just that it's been entrusted with the lips and mouths of party chairs instead", he cried during the webinar on Saturday.
Speaking separately, Democratic Party General Chairperson Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) also suspects that there is a certain party that wants to hold on to [their position] and does not want to lose their power which is behind the idea of postponing the elections.
"There are those who want to preserve their power and they're afraid [of loosing] power. Where will our country end up if it is filled with or led by such people", he said when inaugurating new Democrat Party regional leadership boards for Banten and Riau provinces in Banten on Saturday.
Speaking in front of the party leadership boards, Yudhoyono said that extending the president's term in office or postponing the 2024 elections would be a violation of the Indonesian constitution.
"There are some who have begun to articulate that it would be best if they're postponed, I think that these statements are illogical, what is the basis? What's clear is that it's not in line with our constitution, that all terms in office must be complied with, both at the national, provincial and regency level", he cried.
Earlier, National Awakening Party (PKB) General Chairperson Muhaimin Iskandar alias Cak Imin proposed that the 2024 elections be postponed for up to two years.
The National Mandate Party (PAN) later expressed its support for this. The Golkar Party has given positive indications about the proposal. Meanwhile the Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS), the Democrat Party, the National Democrat Party (NasDem) and the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Strggle have rejected this. The United Development Party (PPP) and the Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) meanwhile have yet to declare a position.
Responding to the discourse, the Presidential Staff Office has stated that President Widodo still refers to the Constitution and prevailing legislation.
"Anyone is free to express and opinion. But the president's position remains the same in how he views three terms in office or a postponement of the elections", Deputy Presidential Chief of Staff Jaleswari Pramodhawardani told journalists on Saturday.
Nevertheless, he did not explain in detail Widodo's views on postponing the elections which could have an impct on extending his term in office as the president.
If we refer to past explanations by Widodo, he has strongly opposed any discourse about extending the extension of his term as president.
"There are those who talk about the president being elected for a third term. I think this has three [meanings]. One, wanting to slap me in the face, second, wanting curry favour, but I already have a good image, third wanting to drop me on my face", said Widodo during a discussion with journalists at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on December 2, 2019. (yoa/ynd/khr/mjo/dhf/arh)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Ramai-ramai Sindir 'Otak' di Balik Wacana Penundaan Pemilu 2024".]
