en.1berita.com – The Chairman of the Democratic Party’s Bappilu, Andi Arief, posed six questions directed at the General Secretary of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), Hasto Kristiyanto, regarding the initiator behind the changes in the presidential candidate requirements from having a university degree to just a high school diploma, and the shift to closed elections. What does Hasto have to say?

“We will send a study about that later,” said Hasto to reporters at the PDIP Central Office in Menteng, Jakarta, on Saturday (1/6/2024).

Hasto emphasized that written works should be responded to with written works. He mentioned that his written response would address all of Andi’s questions.

“There is a written work, a journal, and also from my study based on the political management handbook. So, please, written works should be responded to with written works. Because I also convey it in written form,” he explained.

Previously, Andi Arief, the Chairman of the Democratic Party’s Bappilu, asked six questions directed at the PDIP General Secretary, Hasto Kristiyanto. These questions were related to the initiator of the changes in the presidential candidate requirements, from a university degree to just a high school diploma, up to the closed elections.

Andi Arief expressed these questions through his Twitter account (@Andiarief__), posted on Saturday (1/6/2024). Initially, Andi Arief alluded to allegations against Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in the presidential elections of 2004 and 2009.

In the 2009 presidential elections, the pair of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Boediono won in a single round. However, there were allegations of fraud made by the PDIP. Similar allegations were also directed at SBY during the 2004 presidential elections when SBY-Jusuf Kalla won.

“Back in 2009, many, including the pair of Mother Mega (Megawati)-Mr. Prabowo, and Mr. JK (Jusuf Kalla)-Wiranto, along with opposing figures, didn’t believe that SBY-Boediono won in one round. There were allegations of fraud, especially by the PDIP. As a result, the Constitutional Court declared the presidential election valid without any fraud. That was the will of the people,” wrote Andi Arief.

“In 2004, SBY-JK was also besieged by major parties in the second round, united to support Mother Mega (Megawati)-Mr. Hasym Muzadi, who ultimately lost. In the end, the will of the people, as evidenced by pre-election surveys, favored SBY-JK. We cannot oppose the people’s will,” he continued.

Andi Arief then urged all parties not to be disheartened by the results of the 2024 presidential elections, whatever they may be. He believed that all decisions depended on the will of the people.

“Learn from 2004, don’t be disheartened. SBY-JK won without the support of the authorities, without complaints, and in the end, with the support of the people, they won. Similarly, in 2009, because the people judged SBY as successful, the opposition and the vice-presidential candidate who challenged him lost. According to the rationality of the people,” he stated.

Shortly after that, Andi raised questions to Hasto through a tweet. What were those questions?

“Questions for Hasto, the General Secretary of PDIP:

1. Who, on the eve of the presidential election, changed the law requiring presidential candidates to have only a high school diploma?
2. Who, on the eve of the presidential election, changed the physical health regulations, preventing Gus Dur from running in 2004?
3. Who initiated the change in the Presidential Threshold to 20 percent before 2009, so that SBY couldn’t run for president?
4. Who is the initiator of the closed election system brought to the Constitutional Court?
5. Who established a state within a state with a president being a party official?
6. Who is pulling intelligence agencies, part of the police force, and the bureaucracy into politics?” wrote Andi Arief.