24-1-2024 (JAKARTA) Mahfud MD, the vice presidential candidate running alongside former Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo in the upcoming February 14 elections, has announced his intention to step down from his position as a senior minister. His decision aims to prevent any potential conflicts of interest during the electoral process.
Mahfud stated that he is currently waiting for the opportune moment to submit his resignation. This move comes after Ganjar’s call for candidates to relinquish their government roles in order to avoid the abuse of power during their campaign. Presently, there are no existing regulations mandating such action, as issued by President Joko Widodo, whose eldest son is also participating in the elections as the running mate of Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto.
In the upcoming elections, a staggering 204 million Indonesians will cast their votes to choose a new leader who will succeed Joko Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, as he completes his second and final five-year term in October.
In recent weeks, there has been mounting pressure for election candidates to resign due to concerns that certain officials and institutions may be favoring specific candidates on various occasions. This is despite Jokowi’s call for the government, military, and police forces to maintain neutrality throughout the electoral process.
