Jokowi loyalist Budi Arie apologizes for 'early election' remarks
The former cooperatives minister has backtracked remarks he made at a forum organized by the pro-Jokowi group Projo, which he cofounded, suggesting that the next regime change might arrive sooner than 2029.
Budi Arie, a prominent supporter of former President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, has publicly apologised for his remarks about the possibility of holding early elections before the scheduled 2029 presidential and legislative polls. The former cooperatives minister made the statements at a forum organized by the pro-Jokowi group Projo, which he co-founded and currently leads.
In a video clip from the event in Jakarta on August 24, Budi expressed concerns over "some anomalies" indicating the likelihood of an early election. He acknowledged public discontent over the current administration's economic performance, citing demonstrations in areas like Pati, Central Java, and Madura, East Java. Budi likened the unrest to the 1998 riots, which triggered the downfall of the long-standing authoritarian regime of President Suharto and the beginning of the reform era.
The former minister warned that, given the public's discontent, something might happen much sooner than anticipated. He urged the forum to consider alternatives beyond the 2029 elections, acknowledging the need for "historical ruptures" to address the current issues.
Written by urgent.news from The Jakarta Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
