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Democratic legacy
Jokowi’s electoral muscle could easily be interpreted as a challenge not just to his own political party, the PDI-P, but also to the whole party system as a key democratic institution.
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President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo speaks at an event on May 15, 2015 organized “Relawan Jokowi” at Cibubur camping ground in East Jakarta. The group, whose volunteers supported Jokowi in the 2014 election, expressed its support for Jokowi’s government during the event. (kompas.com/Sabrina Asril Ribuan )
P
resident Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has all the reasons to be concerned about the fate of his legacy. It is only natural for the President to be wary of any policy changes that could jeopardize his flagship programs soon after he leaves office.
It is not our contention here that a sitting president in their final term should stay away from politics entirely – but we do believe that it is imperative that they refrain from directly engaging in the electoral process to safeguard our democratic institutions.
The political rally organized by the President’s volunteer groups at the Gelora Bung Karno stadium last week has stirred controversy, with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the nation’s largest party, slamming the event as “political maneuvering” by die-hard supporters of the President that may potentially compromise the integrity of the 2024 presidential election.
The PDI-P’s concerns are warranted. Saturday’s rally, which resembled a political campaign rally sans party paraphernalia, is problematic in so many ways.
It was a naked display of the President’s electoral muscle that could easily be interpreted as a challenge not just to his own political party, the PDI-P, but also to the whole party system as a key democratic institution. It is telling that those attending the event were carrying banners calling for an additional term for the President, a proposal that has been flatly rejected by most parties in the parliament.
That the President chose to endorse a certain figure as his potential successor, even though it was spoken in code, is also a matter of great concern. It could at best be seen as an attempt to interfere with the affairs of the political parties. But what concerns us the most is that it creates an impression that the President is favoring a certain candidate and is ready to mobilize state resources to help him win, tainting the election integrity.
We are giving President Jokowi the benefit of the doubt that the GBK rally was nothing other than an attempt by some in his quarters to stay in power beyond 2024, an allegation made by elite members of the PDI-P. We call on the President to uphold democratic principles and allow for the free contestation of political candidates.
Former presidents Megawati Soekarnoputri and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono left the State Palace gracefully. Both leaders undoubtedly had interests in the election – Megawati was seeking reelection, while Yudhoyono was paving the way for his son to enter politics – but neither of them made any moves that could undermine the electoral process.
The two political leaders chose to step down graciously, leaving the State Palace knowing that while they lost the battle, they kept democracy alive and well.
President Jokowi has led the country during some of the most challenging moments in recent memory – first the pandemic and later the war in Ukraine, both having seriously impacted the global economy. In the grand scheme of things, that is a feat that cannot easily be dismissed. We are hoping that the President can have a graceful exit, with a vibrant democracy as one of his legacies.
