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New group triggers fresh debate over presidential term limit
Called Jokowi-Prabowo 2024, the group is endorsing a Jokowi-Prabowo Subianto ticket for the 2024 presidential election.
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Officials prepare ballot boxes and other voting materials in Jakarta ahead of the 2019 presidential and legislative elections. (Antara/Bay Ismoyo)
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group claiming to support a third presidential bid for President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in 2024, which goes against the Constitution, has stirred up public debate over term limits for the country’s highest office.
Called Jokowi-Prabowo 2024, the group is endorsing a Jokowi-Prabowo Subianto ticket for the 2024 presidential election. Prabowo currently serves as defense minister. The group said that the pairing of the two figures would unite the nation and prevent the pluralist-versus-conservative sentiments that had marred the presidential elections in 2014 and 2019, as well as the Jakarta gubernatorial election in 2017.
“We see this as the best option for Indonesia, [nominating] the Jokowi-Prabowo ticket to prevent extreme polarization in the country. What’s important is the stability of the country,” group chairman Baron Danardono said on YouTube on Monday.
This is the third time the idea of a third term for Jokowi has been brought up in the public sphere in the past two years. This highlights the growing concern over the possibilities of a constitutional amendment to extend the term limit for presidents and vice presidents despite widespread rejection — including from Jokowi himself.
Former People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) speaker Amien Rais raised the issue in March when he alleged that a plan was in place to revise the Constitution to allow presidents and vice presidents to be elected for a third term.
Jokowi, at the time, was quick to deny Amien’s allegation, saying he had “no intention nor interest” to become a third-term president.
Read also: Presidential term limits in spotlight, again
