President can 'pick sides' in presidential election: Jokowi

President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo (centre) and Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto join a ceremony on Jan. 24, 2024 marking the handover of Hercules military transport aircraft to the Air Force. - The Jakarta Post/Antara

JAKARTA: President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo insisted on Wednesday (Jan 24) that a sitting president is free to back any presidential candidate and that he is entitled to campaign for the candidate of his choice in his free time, providing he makes no use of government facilities while doing so.

The President made the statement during a handover ceremony at Halim Perdanakusumah Air Base in East Jakarta for new Hercules C-130J A-1344 military transport aircraft to the Air Force.