The Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) has concluded that there were no violations in a video where President Prabowo Subianto urged support for the gubernatorial candidates Ahmad Luthfi and Taj Yasin in the 2024 Central Java Regional Elections (Pilkada).
Chairman of Bawaslu RI, Rahmat Bagja, stated that the President’s endorsement of one of the contestants in the Central Java Pilkada did not breach electoral administrative rules or constitute an election offense.
“There are no allegations of election violations, neither administrative violations nor election crimes,” Bagja said during a press conference at the Bawaslu Office, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday (11/20/2024).
Bawaslu’s Findings
Bagja explained that the video, uploaded by Central Java gubernatorial candidate Ahmad Luthfi on his Instagram account, indeed contained campaign materials.
However, the video was uploaded on November 9, during the official campaign period for elections via social media, from September 25 to November 23, 2024.
“Thus, based on the timing, it does not violate the law,” Bagja stated.
Legally, Bagja added, the President is also permitted to participate in election campaigns under Article 70 Paragraph 22 of the Regional Election Law (UU Pilkada).
This provision is reinforced by Constitutional Court Decision No. 52 of 2024 and Government Regulation No. 32 of 2018.
Bawaslu also clarified that the requirement for leave for the Head of State to participate in campaigns does not apply.
According to Bawaslu’s investigation, the video supporting Luthfi-Taj Yasin was recorded on Sunday, November 3, 2024, a public holiday.
“Or on a day off,” Bagja added.
Recorded at Jokowi’s Residence
Additionally, Bagja revealed that President Prabowo’s video endorsing Ahmad Luthfi and Taj Yasin was recorded at the residence of former President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in Solo.
He stated that the video was created by Ahmad Luthfi-Taj Yasin’s media team on November 3, 2024, during Prabowo’s visit to meet Jokowi.
“The video was recorded on November 3, 2024, by the media team of Central Java gubernatorial and vice gubernatorial candidates No. 2, Ahmad Luthfi and Taj Yasin, at the residence of Joko Widodo (the 7th President of Indonesia) in Sumber, Surakarta, Central Java,” Bagja explained.
The five-minute and 39-second video was uploaded to the Instagram account @ahmadluthfi_official on November 9, 2024. In the video, Prabowo urged Central Java residents to vote for Ahmad Luthfi and Taj Yasin.
“In the video, Prabowo Subianto, wearing a blue shirt and a black cap, stated several key points. He mentioned being entrusted by the Indonesian people and inaugurated as President, and then urged the people of Central Java to vote for Ahmad Luthfi and Taj Yasin,” Bagja said.
Ahmad Luthfi’s Instagram Post
The video, uploaded to Ahmad Luthfi’s Instagram account @ahmadluthfi_official on Saturday (11/9/2024) afternoon, features Prabowo inviting Central Java residents to vote for Ahmad Luthfi-Taj Yasin in the 2024 Pilkada.
In the video, Prabowo expressed his determination to accelerate economic development and eradicate corruption to ensure all Indonesians could benefit from the nation’s wealth.
For this reason, the President emphasized the need for support from local governments. According to Prabowo, Ahmad Luthfi and Taj Yasin are the right figures for Central Java.
“I am determined to eradicate all deviations, corruption, and abuse of power, as well as manipulation and fraud by all parties,” Prabowo said in the video.
“To achieve this, I need support from provinces and districts. I believe that the two right figures for Central Java are Commissioner General Ahmad Luthfi, who has served and dedicated himself to Central Java for a long time,” he added.
Prabowo highlighted that both candidates had significantly contributed to Central Java. Taj Yasin served as Deputy Governor of Central Java from 2018–2023, while Luthfi held the position of Central Java Police Chief.
“I believe they will form a great team and work well with me at the national level. Together, we will be a strong team, both locally and nationally,” Prabowo said.
The President concluded by urging the people of Central Java to vote for Ahmad Luthfi and Taj Yasin in the Central Java Pilkada. He expressed confidence that Indonesia would have a strong team to bring rapid progress both in Central Java and across the nation.
“I humbly ask you to vote for General Ahmad Luthfi and Gus Taj Yasin Maimoen,” he said.
