We cannot restrict a political party leader or public groups who opined the (presidential term) must be extended because it is not against the law to do soJakarta (ANTARA) - The discourse surrounding a proposed delay in the 2024 elections and the extension of the president's office term did not originate with the government, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD has stressed.
"The government's position is clear. However, in the case of some who have a different opinion, I affirmed that those are outside the government, and it is their (personal) rights," Mahfud said at the National Resilience Institute’s (Lemhannas’) policy direction meeting on "Transformation for Lemhannas RI 4.0" here on Wednesday.
The coordinating minister said that expressions of personal aspirations and opinions over delaying the general elections or abolishing the presidential term limit cannot be restricted as they are a part of the right to expression and therefore, not against the law.
"We cannot restrict a political party leader or public groups who opined the (presidential term) must be extended because it is not against the law to do so," he said.
Any moves made by advocates of election delay regarding their political positions are outside the government, he added.
"The issue (that the government) must handle are not those internal political intrigues. (The government's business is to handle) natural disasters, geopolitical issues, or extraordinary occurrences," Mahfud said.
The minister emphasized that the government will continue to prepare for the elections and will stick to the electoral timetable for the 2024 elections.
Moreover, electoral organizers have also prepared all aspects for the general election, such as the procedural and institutional arrangements, as well as regulations, he added.
"Until now, the internal, procedural, personnel, institutional, and regulation aspects (for the elections) have been readied. The (election) phases have also been arranged. Our general election will remain in 2024," Mahfud said.
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Translator: Tri Meilani A, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Sri Haryati
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