The President should not campaign for others. On January 24, 2024, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) made a statement that the president may campaign and take sides. This statement has caused controversy among the public and legal observers.

Legally, the president may 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 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 elections. The President is a symbol of the state and must maintain national unity and integrity. The president's campaign for others may give the impression that the president is taking sides with one candidate and may divide the community.

Second, the president's campaign can influence the election results. The president has a great influence against society. Presidential campaigns can make the public more likely to vote for candidates supported by the president. This can reduce the public's right to choose the candidates they want.

Third, presidential campaigns can create conflicts of interest. The president is a state official who has great power and authority. A presidential campaign for someone else can 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 devices under him, whether by order or not by order, will certainly give "treatment" specifically to the candidate supported by his leader.