Jokowi made this statement in response to several ministers from the Indonesia Onward Cabinet that took part as the winning team to support the presidential and vice presidential candidate pairs participating in the 2024 presidential election.
"Everyone has a right to join the democratic and political practice. It also applies to all ministers. They are all allowed to take side during the election campaigns," the president confirmed when met at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, Jakarta, Wednesday.
The head of state explained that president and ministers are positioned as public officials as well as political officials. Hence, joining in a campaign is a democratic and political right of every citizen, including the president and ministers.
However, he emphasized that rules still must be followed while exercising democratic rights. Thus, the president and ministers are not allowed to use state facilities while campaigning for candidate pairs for the 2024 presidential election.
"Ministers are allowed to take part. I allow them, but without using the state facilities," Jokowi remarked.
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He also stressed that the choice to join in a campaign is every individual's right.
"As long as they still follow the rules. Even the president is allowed to join the campaign. It is up to each individual whether he wants to do it," he stated.
When asked regarding his participation to join the election campaign, the president answered normatively.
"We will see later," he stated.
The Indonesian General Elections Commission (KPU) named three presidential-vice presidential candidate pairs for the 2024 presidential election on February 14, 2024, namely Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar with official number 1, Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka with official number 2, and Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD with official number 3.
The 2024 election campaign period started on November 28, 2023, and will last until February 10, 2024, followed by a quiet period on February 11-13 and the voting date on February 14, 2024.
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Translator: Mentari Dwi G, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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