PRESIDENT Joko Widodo (Jokowi) denied offering the name of his youngest son, who is the General Chair of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), Kaesang Pangarep, to be nominated in the 2024 Jakarta Regional Head Election (Pilkada).
“I have never submitted (the name) to anyone. Never to the parties either, (try) asking the parties,” said Jokowi when met on the sidelines of the inauguration of the battery factory and electric vehicle ecosystem PT HLI Green Power in Karawang, West Java, Wednesday (3/7)
He emphasized that regional elections are the business of political parties, so the matter of who will be nominated in the regional elections in November is also the right of political parties.
“I am not the party leader, I am not the party owner, so don’t ask me,” Jokowi emphasized.
The accusation of President Jokowi interfering by offering Kaesang Pangarep’s name to run in the Jakarta gubernatorial election was conveyed by the Secretary General of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) Aboe Bakar Al Habsyi.
The accusations have been denied by the Palace, as well as by Kaesang himself as the General Chair of PSI.
Also read: PKS Secretary General Says President Jokowi is Using Guerrilla Method to Put Forward Kaesang for Jakarta Gubernatorial Election
“Don’t bring the President into it, I’m the general chairman,” he said last week.
According to Kaesang, the party who has the right to decide who will represent PSI in the regional elections is himself as the general chairman.
Several things will also be Kaesang’s consideration in determining who will advance in the DKI Pilkada. One of them is the many parties who came to PSI to ask for support from the party with the red rose symbol.
“PSI has seats in Jakarta, quite a few, eight seats. Many parties are also pushing their champions to be supported by PSI. The statement by the PKS Secretary General might be closing the door to a coalition with PSI, but that’s okay too,” he said.
Regardless, he hopes that those spreading the issue will not harm the momentum of the 2024 Pilkada with hoax news that misleads the public. (Ant/P-5)
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