JakartaPost-Sept 14, 2023
Election observers have raised concerns that allowing ministers running for elected office to take leave, rather than resigning, could lead to ethical violations and abuses of power, following President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s decision to allow cabinet ministers to run as candidates in the upcoming presidential election without requiring them to resign. Several ministers within the cabinet are expected to run in the 2024 election, such as Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto who has declared his intention to run as a presidential candidate. Other ministers, such as State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir and Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno have also been eyed by various parties as vice-presidential candidates. “The most important thing is that they don’t use government facilities,” Jokowi said. The decision was in contrast to the 2019 election, when ministers were required to resign their offices before campaigning, according to the 2017 Elections Law. But the Constitutional Court ruled last year in favor of a judicial review proposing a change to the law, which allows cabinet ministers and other high-ranking officials in the government to retain their positions even if they wish to run for election. The current version of the Elections Law gives cabinet ministers up to a year of leave starting from the date of their official candidacy, as long as the president approves their request for leave. Read more at:
https://www.thejakartapost.com/indonesia/2023/09/14/fears-of-abuse-as-ministers-allowed-to-campaign-on-leave.html.
