The Gulf Time Newspaper One of the finest business newspapers in the UAE brought to you by our professional writers and editors.
Bloomberg
Indonesian President Joko Widodo appeared to dismiss a plan floated by senior cabinet official to extend his time in office as thousands of university students are set to protest in Jakarta over the move along with the rising costs of basic goods.
Rumours have persisted for months that the leader known as Jokowi could seek to amend the constitution to run for a third term after the pandemic sidetracked his ambitious infrastructure agenda, including the construction a brand new capital in Borneo. While he remains popular with voters, the issue could create discord within certain sections of the population concerned about a return to an era of former president Suharto who ruled for three decades with an iron fist until his ouster in 1998.
“I think it’s clear that everyone already knows that the election will be held on February 14, 2024,†the president told an election committee meeting.
“This needs to be explained, lest there be speculation circulating among the public that the government is trying to delay the election or speculation about the extension of the President’s office or the issue of three terms,†he said in remarks published on the Cabinet Secretariat website.