President's Party Questions Minister Luhut on Election Postponement Idea

TheIndonesia.id - Secretary General of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) Hasto Kristiyanto questioned the capacity of Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut B Pandjaitan to talk about postponing the 2024 General Election. PDIP, the largest party in parliament, rejected the discourse of postponing the election. PDIP is also the party of President Joko Widodo.

"I think Pak Luhut should clarify, in what capacity is he speaking? Because when it comes to politics, law, and security, those are the realms of the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs. When it comes to democratic politics, governance arrangements, it's the Home Affairs Minister," said Hasto in a press release, in Jakarta, Monday, March 14, 2022.

Hasto said this after giving a public lecture themed "Indonesia in Global Geopolitics" in the hall of the University of North Sumatra (USU) campus, responding to Luhut's statement claiming to have "big data" of Indonesian voters who wanted the 2024 election to be postponed. Hasto said "big data" should be used for urgent issues, namely populist-related issues, for example, scarce cooking oil and rising prices of public necessities.

"He (Luhut) must be responsible for the statement academically so that this does not divide. Because being an assistant to the president must focus on his duties, according to the mandate given. What is his mandate in conveying this and this is different from the statement by the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, "Hasto said.

He also invited all ministers and assistants to President Joko Widodo not to have different opinions with the president regarding the issue of the 2024 General Election. Even though President Jokowi continues to build optimism and is working hard in overcoming the pandemic.

"The president has repeatedly stated his stance firmly and the government has agreed on the elections on February 14, 2024. Then why are there presidential assistants who make unhealthy discourses in the national political situation?" Hasto said.

Hasto added that his party invites all parties to build positive energy with President Jokowi and the PDIP will consistently move on that path. "The task of the PDI-P as the political party that carries the government is to build joint energy to quickly rise to become a leader in Asia and the world in overcoming the pandemic. Pak Jokowi has shown many achievements and also the very appropriate direction for all ranks of his cabinet," said Hasto.