Former VP Jusuf Kalla: I have experienced every election since the first one, there has never been an election process as bad as this, this is the worst

By Novianti Setuningsih, Nicholas Ryan Aditya, and Ihsanuddin for Kompas.com, January 24, 2024

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – The former two-term vice president of Indonesia, Mr. Jusuf Kalla, considers the 2024 general election (campaign) process (so far) has been the worst, compared to previous elections. Not without reason, former Vice President Kalla referred to the intimidation of a number of presidential and vice presidential candidates.

According to Mr. Kalla, this intimidation is a form of unfairness in the election process. “This (current election) looks democratic, there are candidates, but they are being intimidated, it is being implemented unfairly, (government authorities) taking sides is extraordinary,” said Mr. Kalla.

“I’m at this age, and have experienced elections for a long time. There has never been an election process as bad as this. It’s the worst,” said Mr. Kalla, starting his views on the 2024 election in the “Gaspol” television program which aired on the Kompas.com YouTube channel on Tuesday (23/1/2024).

The senior Golkar Party politician also touched on the differences between the 2024 election process and the New Order era elections led by Indonesia’s second president Soeharto.

According to the former vice president, although the New Order era elections were unfair, the method used was not through intimidation. “There was a sense of direction (during the New Order) too, but not with threats such as those now, not massive from top to bottom. However, the system was indeed controlled,” said Mr. Jusuf Kalla.

Nomination Process of President Widodo’s Son

Mr. Kalla also touched on the process of nominating the Mayor of Solo and the eldest son of President Joko Widodo, Mr. Gibran Rakabuming Raka, as vice presidential candidate in the 2024 presidential election. However, Mr. Kalla believes the protests were not because Mr. Gibran was President Widodo’s son, but rather the methods used violated the constitution.

Wrong Process

“We’re not protesting because his son (Prident Widodo’s) is trying to become a candidate for vice president, what we’re protesting is the method. The process. If the process is wrong, the results will definitely be wrong,” said Mr. Kalla.

“The proof is that the Chief Justice of Indonesia’s Constitutional Court was fired, right? That’s all. If the Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court is fired, it means there is a big problem, right? This cannot be denied,” he said further.

Associates Being Intimidated, Imprisoned

Mr. Kalla also acknowledged he was under pressure from the authorities, although not directly, after expressing support for the presidential and vice presidential candidates number Mr. Anies Baswedan and Mr. Muhaimin Iskandar (Amen).

He said the intimidation happened to people close to him. In fact, there were people close to him who were intimidated using legal cases. “It wasn’t directly (intimidating me). But in fact, it was disturbing, my people were intimidated, some have even been imprisoned without any fault,” said Mr. Kalla on the Gaspol! program on Wednesday (24/1/2024).

Legal Cases, Criminalization and Arrest

But Mr. Kalla did not provide further details about who he was referring to, and the legal case involving him. Former VP Kalla said many officials are now afraid to just meet him. He explained how an official even met with him in secret because he was afraid of being discovered by his superiors.

“There are also those who meet me and only whisper ‘Sir, I’m going to follow you, but I have to keep quiet’. There are many people like that,”

“Yes, they are afraid, afraid of being reprimanded from above. Afraid of being removed from their position. So the problem is fear of this position, not ideology,” he continued.

Mr. Kalla was surprised when he realized why all the officials who wanted to meet him seemed afraid, or even avoided meeting him. In fact, said the former two term vice president, he invited all parties to discuss (the election). He also admitted he wanted to set an example of how to create a fair government for all parties.

“I follow the existing system, that the government must serve all parties fairly. So, this is how this country has been regulated up to now,” said the senior Golkar Party politician.

This article is based on https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2024/01/24/14232451/jk-saya-alami-pemilu-sejak-pertama-tak-ada-proses-pemilu-seburuk-saat-ini; and https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2024/01/24/13451211/jk-sebut-orang-dekatnya-diintimidasi-usai-dukung-anies-muhaimin-ada-yang;