Jakarta (ANTARA) - The situation in the current political year must be maintained properly to ensure the unity and integrity of the nation, Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has said. "We have entered a political year, which we must maintain carefully. It cannot damage the unity and integrity of the nation," he said while delivering his remarks at the National Dharma Santi Celebration in Jakarta on Friday.
All parties should be grateful because the COVID-19 pandemic and various difficult challenges have been handled properly, he added. These achievements have led to the recovery of community activities and a return to economic growth.
According to him, the nation's conducive situation must be maintained together to realize peace, especially since the political year has begun with the general elections scheduled in 2024.
"That is why I invite Hindus wherever they are to carry out the dharma of religion and the dharma of the state with full awareness, and also carry out the obligations of Sradha Bhakti as religious people," he added.
In line with that, the head of state also invited Hindus to uphold the honor of the state and nation, protect the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, Pancasila, the 1945 Constitution, and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika.
He also wished Hindus throughout the country happy holy days of Silence Day and Saka New Year 1945. "The holy Silence Day is an important moment to remind us to improve ourselves to become better, and be reborn as new individuals who are more noble," he added.
According to the General Elections Commission’s (KPU’s) schedule for the 2024 General Election, the nominations for the presidential and vice presidential candidates will be open from October 19 to November 25, 2023.
Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning General Elections (Election Law) stipulates that the presidential and vice-presidential candidate pairs will have to be proposed by political parties or coalitions of political parties participating in the election that meet the requirements of obtaining at least 20 percent of the total seats in the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) or securing 25 percent of the nationally valid votes in the previous election for members of the DPR.
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Currently, there are 575 seats in the parliament. Therefore, the presidential and vice presidential candidate pairs for the 2024 presidential election must gain the support of political parties/coalition of political parties that have won at least 115 seats in the DPR RI. Or, they must be backed by political parties/coalition political parties who secured at least 34,992,703 valid votes in the 2019 Election.
