The Core Problem of the 2024 Presidential Election, Todung: Nepotism Gives Birth to Abuse of Power

JAKARTA – Chairman of the Ganjar-Mahfud Democracy and Justice Team, Todung Mulya Lubis, revealed the essence of the problem 2024 presidential election is nepotism, which gives birth to coordinated abuse of power.

This is also why the name of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is often mentioned in the 2024 General Election Results Dispute (PHPU) request.

Initially, Todung explained that the PHPU application for candidate pair 03 Ganjar-Mahfud also questioned the election organizers, the General Election Commission (KPU), because they accepted the registration of President Jokowi’s son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka as a vice presidential candidate (cawapres) without changing KPU Regulation (PKPU) Number 19 of 2003 stated that the age limit for presidential and vice presidential candidates is 40 years.

Meanwhile, the basis for Gibran’s candidacy, which does not meet the minimum age limit for presidential and vice presidential candidates of 40 years, is the decision of the Constitutional Court (MK) Number 90/2023 which allows someone under the age of 40 to become a presidential and vice presidential candidate if they serve as regional head as a result of the regional election process. .

“When registration was carried out, the minimum age limit for presidential and vice presidential candidates was still 40 years. That does not apply retroactively,” said Todung, quoted from Abraham Samad’s YouTube channel ‘Speak Up,’ Saturday (30/3/2024).

The KPU then, said Todung, accepted Gibran’s registration as vice presidential candidate before PKPU Number 19 of 2003 was changed. In fact, the Constitutional Court’s decision does not apply retroactively and the KPU only changed the PKPU on November 3 2023.

“The KPU is at fault. But many parties think that Jokowi is behind the MK’s decision,” he said.

Todung further said that the Constitutional Court, which was then chaired by Anwar Usman, was also involved in nepotism. Anwar Usman is the president’s brother-in-law, while Gibran is Jokowi’s son.

“This nepotism gave birth to various abuses of power to win candidate pair 02,” he said.