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Jokowi defends conduct in office
President Jokowi has denied allegations that he has resorted to unsavory tactics, including trying to derail a high-profile graft probe involving a key political ally, as campaigning season begins in earnest.
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President Joko “Jokowi“ Widodo gives a speech during Bank Indonesia's Annual Meeting held in the central bank's Jakarta headquarters on Nov. 30, 2023. (Youtube/Bank Indonesia/-)
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has denied allegations that he has resorted to unsavory tactics as commanding officer, including trying to derail a high-profile graft probe involving a key political ally, a moment that foreshadowed the end of the country’s powerful antigraft agency.
The incumbent, barred from reelection but enjoying some of the highest approval ratings of any sitting president, has had to defend himself from a recent string of accusations leveled by former allies – all of which have suggested that Jokowi would go to lengths to achieve a desired outcome.
Allegations emerged as the nation enters campaign season, and come mostly from figures associated with presidential candidates Ganjar Pranowo or Anies Baswedan – rivals of frontrunner Prabowo Subianto, whose victory next year would mean Jokowi’s interests are secured for another five years through his eldest son, vice-presidential candidate Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Jokowi denied having instructed a former head of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to cease a 2017 investigation into then-House of Representatives speaker Setya Novanto.
At the time, Setya was chairman of the Golkar Party, a key ally in Jokowi’s government. He would go on to be convicted in one of the nation’s highest-profile graft cases in recent memory.
Jokowi pointed to his own statement in November of that year that legal proceedings should continue, and that the case ultimately concluded with a heavy 15-year prison sentence for the former House speaker.
“What’s the point of making all this noise? What interest does it serve and for what purpose?” Jokowi quizzed reporters in Jakarta on Monday. He also claimed there was no official record of him summoning then-KPK chief Agus Rahardjo to call off the investigation into Setya.
