Jokowi Affirms No Interference in 2024 Presidential Candidate Affairs
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has dismissed accusations of meddling or cawe-chawe in the election for presidential and vice presidential candidates in the 2024 presidential election. Jokowi emphasized that his meeting with the chairmen of six political parties a few days ago was an arena for political discussion.
"Cawe-cawe? He..he..he.. not cawe-cawe. It's just a discussion, why are you cawe-cawe. Discussion, I have already said that I am also a political official. I am not a cawe-cawe," said Jokowi at Sarinah, Central Jakarta, Thursday (4/5/2023).
Jokowi emphasized that the affairs of the presidential candidate are the affairs of the party. He admitted that he had repeatedly emphasized this.
"The matter of the presidential candidate is the business of the party or coalition of parties, I have conveyed it back and forth. If they invite me, I invite them that's fine," he said.
Jokowi said that apart from being a public official, he was also a political official. According to him, there is no constitution that he violated.
"What constitution has been violated from there? Nothing. Please understand that I am a politician as well as a public official," said Jokowi.
"I am a public official as well as a political official. So it's okay to talk about politics. I can talk about public services, now that's the President's job. Only if there is a KPU decree I will do that," he added while showing a silent gesture.
Projo also emphasizes that Jokowi is neutral
Ketum Pro Jokowi or Projo, Budi Arie Setiadi, considers President Jokowi to be neutral in determining the presidential candidate in the 2024 presidential election. Budi Arie believes that Jokowi is not in favor of a particular presidential candidate.
"The president is neutral. I also think the president is neutral, the president should be neutral," said Budi Arie at the Adu Perspective event held by detik.com and Total Politik, Wednesday (3/5/2023).
Not only that, Budi Arie alluded to a party criticizing Jokowi for having to be neutral about the 2024 Pilrpes. However, according to Budi Arie, the party's stance is double-edged.
"I don't want to name the party. Some say the president should be neutral, but ask for support, he's ambiguous," he said.