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Parties make U-turn election postponement
Political parties that had previously supported delaying the 2024 elections have made a complete U-turn.
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Students and members of civil organizations attend a rally in front of the House of Representatives complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on April 11, 2022. Those attending voiced their opposition to plans to postpone the 2024 election or to extend the presidential term of office, among other things. (Antara/Galih Pradipta)
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olitical parties that had previously supported delaying the 2024 elections have made a complete U-turn to support President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo’s decision to go ahead with the elections as scheduled.
Several prominent coalition members had proposed the election postponement and the extension of Jokowi’s term beyond 2024 – changes that would require a constitutional amendment. The parties in support of the postponement included the Golkar Party, the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the National Mandate Party (PAN).
However, the Golkar leadership issued a statement on Monday supporting Jokowi’s decision.
Golkar deputy chair Nurul Arifin said the party fully endorsed the government's decision to hold the general election on Feb. 14, 2024.
Nurul also claimed that Golkar had been consistent in pushing for the President to step down when his second and final term ended in 2024, saying that party chairman Airlangga Hartarto’s call for Jokowi's term to be extended was a reflection of voters’ aspirations.
"Such a proposal was never the official position of the party. We never called for an extended term or to postpone the elections," Nurul said.
Back in February, along with politicians from PAN and the PKB, Airlangga called for delaying the 2024 elections to allow Jokowi to serve beyond his final five-year term.
