Chairman of the People’s Mandate Party (PAN) Zulkifli Hasan has said his party supports a discourse to postpone the implementation of the 2024 general elections.

“Considering various factors and inputs from the public and groups, PAN has decided to agree that the 2024 General Elections be postponed,” Zulkifli Hasan said at the Parliament Complex, here on Friday.

He cited five reasons why PAN supports the postponement of the 2024 General Elections.

The first reason is because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic which is not over yet, hence it requires seriousness to handle it.

Second, it has resulted in unstable economic conditions, such as the slow economic growth at around 3-3.5 percent that has forced people to struggle to recover from the impacts of the pandemic on the economy.

“Third, the developments of the global situation, such as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which affects global economy and Indonesia,” he said.

For the fourth reason, Zulkifli Hasan said the implementation of the General Elections requires a very large cost, which would be better if the funds could be used for the benefit of the people’s welfare.

Fifth, according to Hasan, focus should be on the sustainability of development programs, as several programs have to be delayed for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“But beyond that, various surveys show that the people’s satisfaction with the government’s performance, especially President Jokowi, is very high, more than 70 percent,” he said.

He said he would establish communication with all political parties, community organizations, and various groups to discuss the next steps regarding the discourse on postponing the 2024 General Elections.

Earlier, Chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB) Muhaimin Iskandar voiced his suggestion that the 2024 general elections be postponed due to the sluggish economic conditions.

On Feb 24, 2022, Chairman of Golkar Party Airlangga Hartarto, concurrently Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, when visited Siak District, Riau Province, said that palm oil farmers told him that they wanted President Joko Widodo, who will end his second term in 2024, to continue as the country’s President for the third term.

PAN, PKB, and Golkar are among the political parties that make up the Jokowi administration’s coalition.

The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the Democratic Party (PD) are the only political parties remaining outside the coalition led by the ruling PDIP Party.

Source: Antara News