The President should not campaign for others. On January 24, 2024, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated that the president may campaign and take sides. This statement has caused controversy among the public and legal observers.
Legal Aspect
Legally, the president is indeed allowed to campaign for others. This is regulated in Article 299 paragraph (1) of Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning General Elections (UU Pemilu). The article states that the president and vice president have the right to campaign.
Ethical Aspect
However, ethically, is it permissible for the president to campaign for others? This is still a matter of debate. Some argue that the president should not campaign for others because it would create a conflict of interest. The president is a public official who must be neutral in elections.
Author's Argument: The President Should Not Campaign
The author argues that the president should not campaign for others. The reasons are as follows:
First, the president is a public official who must be neutral in electionsThe President is a symbol of the state and must maintain national unity and integrity. A presidential campaign for others may give the impression that the President is taking sides with one of the candidates and may divide the community.
Second, a presidential campaign can influence the election results. The President has a great influence on society.A presidential campaign can make people more likely to vote for the candidate supported by the President. This can reduce the public's right to choose the candidate they want.
Third, a presidential campaign can create a conflict of interest. The President is a state official who has great power and authority. A presidential campaign for others may give the impression that the President is using his power to benefit the candidate he supports.
Fourth,, the President as the highest leader of state institutions makes the psychology of his subordinates not good when supporting one of the candidates. For example, if the President supports one of the candidates, then the apparatus below him, whether by order or not by order, will certainly give "treatment" specifically to the candidate supported by his leader.
Conflict of Interest: President Campaigning for Others
Here are some examples of how a presidential campaign can create a conflict of interest:
- The President can use state facilities to support the candidate he supports. For example, the President can use the presidential plane to take the candidate he supports to campaign.
- The President can use his power to give advantages to the candidate he supports. For example, the President can issue policies that benefit the candidate he supports.
A presidential campaign for others can damage public trust in the government. People will assume that the government is not neutral and does not fight for the interests of the people. This can weaken democracy in Indonesia.
Therefore, I believe that the President should not campaign for others. The President must be neutral in the election and respect the public's right to choose the candidate they want.
Conclusion
A presidential campaign for others can cause various problems, both legally, ethically, and politically. Therefore, the President should not campaign for others.
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