Hashtag `2019GantiPresiden` Not Considered as Political Campaign

The elections supervisory agency (Bawaslu) does not recognize the viral hashtag 2019GantiPresiden, enticing people to replace the president in the 2019 election, as a political campaign.

According to Bawaslu member Fritz Edward Siregar, the #2019GantiPresiden hashtag is merely a form of expression by members of the public through the social media realm. “That is part of the public expression. [We] cannot restrict people from expressing their opinion,” said Edward at the general elections commission (KPU) yesterday, April 5.

Furthermore, Edward said that Bawaslu is unable to monitor presidential campaigns since it will only officially start on September 23. Therefore, the hashtag cannot be categorized as a form of presidential campaign, especially since there are no official candidates to this date.

“The campaign period has not commenced. Before it does, Bawaslu cannot take action. [The hashtag] is considered as a freedom of expression,” Edward explained.

The hashtag #2019GantiPresiden that means ‘change the president in 2019’ made rounds during the past few days on social media. Known as its initiator, PKS central executive board [DPP] Mardani Ali Sera said that he introduced the hashtag to educate the public to participate in politics

Courtesy : Tempo.co
Photo : EDUNEWS.id

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