Meeting at Palace, SBY and President Jokowi Agree to Support Perppu on Elections of Regional Heads
Meeting at Palace, SBY and President Jokowi Agree to Support Perppu on Elections of Regional Heads
Former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), in his capacity as the Chairman of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), met President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in Merdeka Palace Jakarta on Monday (8/12). On that occasion, they took the opportunity to discuss the Government Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu) on Elections of Regional Heads which was recommended to be rejected in the National Congress of Golkar Party in Bali a few days ago.
According to SBY, he and President Jokowi took the same stance to support the Perppu on Elections of Regional Heads and to urge the enactment of the Perppu into a law. Our stance is 100 percent the same, he said.
The mechanisms of direct elections of regional heads as stipulated in the Perppu, according to SBY, are in accordance with peoples aspiration.
We take the same stance. Together, we safeguard the Perppu and urge the House of Representatives (DPR) to approve it. In my own opinion and Pak Jokowis, the Perppu on Elections of Regional Heads is in accordance with peoples aspiration and is constructive to the continuance of our democracy, SBY stated.
President Jokowi himself admitted the same stance he shares with SBY, as regards the Perppu on Elections of Regional Heads. Presently, most people expect that the elections of regional heads should be direct.
According to President Jokowi, in his dialog with SBY, both of them agree to fight for the enactment of the Perppu on Elections of Regional Heads into a law, in the House of Representatives (DPR). Its only I and Pak SBY who know the commitment weve made, he stated.
President Jokowi considered that the stance of Democrat Party which is led by SBY to fight for the Perppu can serve as the gate for the party to support the Governments coalition.
In the near future, we still focus on the Perppu. If we can move on to other important issues, why not? President Jokowi said.
When meeting SBY, President Jokowi was accompanied by Minister of State Secretariat Pratikno and Cabinet Secretary Andi Widjajanto, while SBY was accompanied by former Minister of State Secretariat Sudi Silalahi.
After meeting with President Jokowi, SBY also met with Vice President Jusuf Kalla in the office of Vice President in Jakarta.
To journalists, SBY declared his readiness to support the Government. I pledge my moral support and pray that this Government can perform its duties well, he stated.
Concerning his meeting with Vice President Jusuf Kalla, SBY said that in addition to offering inputs and suggestions for improvements to the policies which the Government will adopt in order to make the policies more effective, he also came to give his hope and support to the Government.
I came to express my hope and support, praying that Pak Jusuf Kalla can perform his duties well, SBY stated.
SBY asserted that if the Government can make new achievements, Indonesian people will also be glad. Therefore, all of us must work hard for them.
According to SBY, he intended his visit to Vice President Jusuf Kalla as a return visit. We take turns. Previously, when I still held the office of the President, it was Pak Jusuf Kalla who came and met me. Now, it is he who serves as the Vice President and I came to meet him, he said. (*/Humas Setkab/ES)
