"We cannot afford to let the candidates have good relations, while their supporters, including those in regions, are still fighting each other. We all need to pay close attention to this matter," he remarked during the National Coordination Meeting of Election Organizers in Jakarta on Wednesday.
The head of state remarked that democracy teaches the Indonesian nation that competition and differences in preferences during elections are normal in nature. However, he emphasized that national harmony should be preserved and not be neglected.
"We need to continue to work hand in hand to maintain conduciveness, stability, and security among us," the president stated.
President Jokowi then observed that Indonesia had been successful in demonstrating quality practices of democracy, saying that the Indonesian people had become wiser and more mature in responding to matters related to democracy and elections.
"Because a general election is a festival for the people, an occasion that is supposed to bring joy rather than anxiety," he remarked.
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Bearing that in mind, the president called on all parties to collaborate to ensure that the upcoming elections will be an agenda that unites the people and produces tactical ideas and solutions to advancing the nation.
"All efforts must be done together in the hopes of making the upcoming elections a consolidating event," Jokowi stressed.
The General Election Commission (KPU) has received the registration documents of three pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates, namely Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar, Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD, and Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
The Baswedan-Iskandar pair has the backing of the National Democratic (NasDem) Party, National Awakening Party (PKB), Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), and Ummat Party.
Meanwhile, the Pranowo-Mahfud pair has the support of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), United Development Party (PPP), Indonesian Unity Party (Perindo), and People's Conscience Party (Hanura).
Subianto and Raka have the support of the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party, Party of Functional Groups (Golkar), National Mandate Party (PAN), Democratic Party, Crescent Star Party (PBB), Indonesian People's Wave (Gelora) Party, Garuda Party, Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), and Just and Prosperous People's Party (PRIMA).
The KPU has determined that the campaign period for the upcoming elections will start on November 28 and end on February 10 next year, while the elections will take place on February 14, 2024.
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Translator: Indra Arief, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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