Jokowi’s ‘meddling’ admission in Indonesia’s presidential polls raises political issues but not against the law

JOKOWI’S STATEMENTS IN THE PAST 

Before Jokowi openly admitted to meddling with the election, analysts had speculated about it as the president had made several comments and held meetings with different political figures. 

This includes meetings with the chairperson of PDI-P Megawati Soekarnoputri, Golkar’s Airlangga Hartarto as well as head of the National Mandate Party (PAN) Zulkifli Hasan among others. 

He has also given statements about his favoured choice to be the next president since last year. 

Last November, Jokowi said that the ideal president would have grey hair. Many interpreted it as a sign of the president endorsing Mr Pranowo as the Central Java governor has grey hair. 

On a different occasion, also in November, Jokowi said that 2024 would be Mr Subianto’s year. The retired army general has run twice in the presidential election in 2014 and 2019 but lost on both occasions to Jokowi. 

Jokowi also went to visit a paddy field in Central Java with Mr Pranowo and Mr Subianto in March, which some regard as a sign that he is endorsing them. 

The president has so far not given any indications that he supports Mr Baswedan.

On May 2, Jokowi met with the head of six political parties currently in the government, raising questions about whether they were strategising for the upcoming election. 

Jokowi, however, brushed off concerns of intervention by saying on May 5 that they were just having a discussion.

“I am not meddling. Regarding presidential and vice-presidential candidates, it is the matter of parties or coalition of parties, I have said this several times,” he told reporters in Jakarta then. 

Yet, on May 29, in an interview with several editors-in-chief of local media, Jokowi admitted that he wanted to meddle. 

“Meddling for the country, for the national interest. I decided to meddle in a positive sense. Why can’t I? Can’t (I) do politics? No constitution has been violated. For this country, I can meddle,” he said.