Indonesia’s Jokowi stokes further controversy by declaring presidents ‘can take sides’ in elections

On Wednesday, he changed tack regarding his supposed neutrality, though he stopped short of specifying his preferred candidate.

“[Campaigning] is a democratic right. Every minister [has] this same [right]. The president can campaign. The president can take sides. But the most important thing is that during the campaign [we] must not use state facilities,” Widodo told reporters during a handover ceremony of new military transport aircraft to the Indonesian Air Force at Halim Perdanakusumah Air Base in Jakarta.

Prabowo stood next to Widodo while he made his remarks on Wednesday.

Devi Darmawan, a political researcher at the Jakarta-based National Research and Innovation Agency, said Widodo’s statement could further damage his relationship with Megawati Sukarnoputri, the former Indonesian president and chairwoman of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) that Widodo officially belongs to.

“Elections are not a tool for political elites to perpetuate their power at all costs. In general elections, there are morals and ethics that must be upheld,” Megawati told her assembled party cadres during the convention. “Power does not last … Power will end no matter what position you are in.”

“Among all political party leaders, Megawati has voiced the loudest criticism that our democracy is declining [under Jokowi]. She once said that the current election resembles elections during the New Order,” Devi said, referring to the 32 years of Suharto’s dictatorship, during which elections were manipulated to maintain the strongman’s grip.

In recent speeches, Megawati has repeatedly stated her concern over a lack of neutrality among state officials, civil servants, the police, and armed forces.

“This ideological conflict between