No one can prohibit the eight Cabinet ministers from running for the legislature. The General Elections Law also does not require a minister to resign in order to become a legislative candidate.
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Kompas/Wisnu Widiantoro
President Joko Widodo giving an opening speech when leading a plenary cabinet meeting at the State Palace, Jakarta, Monday (2/10/2017).
The 2019 general elections have entered the campaign stage for legislative candidates. At least eight ministers of the working Cabinet have been nominated.
No one can prohibit the eight Cabinet ministers from running for the legislature. The General Elections Law also does not require a minister to resign in order to become a legislative candidate. Law No. 7/2017 on the general elections makes an exception for ministers that register as candidates. The General Elections Law mandates that regional leaders, active members of the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police, the directors, commissioners and employees of state-owned/regionally owned enterprises (BUMN/BUMD) and other entities that receive state funding must resign. Essentially, the article mandates that those "whose sources of finance come from the state" must resign.
As far as this daily has monitored in its reports, two ministers of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Puan Maharani and Yasonna Laoly, have put themselves forward as legislative candidates. Three ministers rom the National Awakening Party (PKB) have done the same: Hanif Dhakiri, Imam Nahrawi, and Eko Putro Sandjojo. Meanwhile, from the National Mandate Party (PAN), Asman Abnur is reportedly also a candidate. The United Development Party (PPP) has nominated Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin.
The Golkar and Nasdem parties did not nominate any ministers as candidates and instead called on them to assist President “Jokowi” Joko Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla until the end of their tenure on Oct. 20, 2019.
However, whether the ministers’ candidacies will be approved is still awaiting verification from the General Elections Commission (KPU).
Ministers and legislators are two separate domains. Indonesia applies the presidential system. The ministers reside in the executive branch with the head of government, President Jokowi, while House of Representatives members reside in the legislative branch. Sooner or later, the ministers have to choose whether to remain in the executive as presidential aides or move into the legislative.
However, as long as the general elections have not ended, we urge the ministers to remain committed to assisting the Jokowi administration. Focus simply on working according to their political appointments from the President and fulfill their ministerial duties. There are many tasks yet to finish.
The legislative campaigns should also not interfere with their ministerial duties. President Jokowi and Vice President Kalla must themselves give guidance in managing ministers who are running for the legislature to enable them continue their work, such as in the extent of their campaigns, particularly after their candidacy has been confirmed.
The spirit of the General Elections Law also prohibits legislative candidates from using state facilities in their campaigns. The President must remind his aides of this legal and ethical code.
When the new House legislators are installed on Oct. 1, 2019, the ministers who have been elected must then decide whether to move to Senayan or remain as ministers. President Jokowi must anticipate this scenario.
