Indonesia’s Jokowi stokes further controversy by declaring presidents ‘can take sides’ in elections

Widodo has offered mixed messages on his neutrality in the past but on Wednesday, he changed tack regarding his supposed impartiality

Controversy around his remarks also reflected widening rift in his cabinet, with speculation that some of his ministers are considering resigning over the president’s election meddling

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A food vendor rides his bicycle past a General Election Commission’s banner showing the photos of presidential candidates in Jakarta. Photo: AP

Published: 9:23pm, 25 Jan 2024

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has found himself in hot water for saying a sitting president could back and campaign for any presidential candidate, providing further fuel to his critics that he has been abusing his powers and reportedly creating a rift within his cabinet.

Widodo has offered mixed messages regarding his neutrality in the past, saying in September he would “meddle” in the election to ensure that his successor would continue his programmes, while in November stating “all regional, provincial … and central government apparatus to be neutral [in the election]”.

On Wednesday, he changed tack regarding his supposed neutrality, though he stopped short of specifying his preferred candidate.

“[Campaigning] is a democratic right. Every minister [has] this same [right]. The president can campaign. The president can take sides. But the most important thing is that during the campaign [we] must not use state facilities,” Widodo told reporters during a handover ceremony of new military transport aircraft to the Indonesian Air Force at Halim Perdanakusumah Air Base in Jakarta.

A banner of presidential candidate and Indonesias Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto (left) and vice-presidential candidate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, President Joko Widodo’s son and current Surakarta City mayor, in Jakarta. Photo: AFP

Widodo has not officially stated his support for any of the presidential candidates running in the February 14 election. However, he is widely perceived to have given his tacit support to Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto’s campaign given that the ticket’s vice presidential candidate is Widodo’s eldest son Gibran Rakabuming Raka.