Airlangga Admits He Has Met Prabowo Many Times Over The Big Coalition

JAKARTA - Golkar Party Chairman Airlangga Hartarto admitted that he had met the General Chair of the Gerindra Party, Prabowo Subianto, many times to discuss the major coalition.

The Golkar Party and the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) also agreed to encourage the birth of a major coalition of political parties in the 2024 General Election.

"PSI is here to participate in encouraging a major coalition, and this shows that the grand coalition is becoming more relevant and better to encourage," said Golkar Party Chairman Airlangga Hartarto as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, April 12.

This was conveyed by Airlangga after receiving an elite PSI visit led by PSI General Chair Giring Ganesha.

Airlangga explained that the major coalition had been held many times with the General Chairperson of Gerindra Prabowo Subianto.

"Prabowo as the leader of KIR, I am from the Golkar Party and representing KIB continue to communicate to build solidity from a large coalition," said Airlangga.

The big coalition is the idea of merging two coalitions, namely the Greater Indonesia Awakening Coalition (KKIR) and the United Indonesia Coalition (KIB). KKIR is a combination of Gerindra political parties and PKB. While the joint KIB is Golkar, PAN, and PPP.

The discourse of a large coalition opened for the first time after President Jokowi met the leaders of political parties supporting the current government.

The five leaders of political parties in the meeting at the PAN DPP Office, Sunday, April 2, namely Prabowo Subianto (Gerindra), Muhaimin Iskandar (PKB), Airlangga Hartarto (Golkar), Zulkifli Hasan (PAN), and Muhammad Mardiono (PPP).

Airlangga emphasized that the coalition is open to all parties, both in parliament and in parliament.

"First, of course, the discussion with the Head of Gerindra, Pak Prabowo, has been carried out many times and of course this grand coalition has elements of KIB and the Greater Indonesia Coalition (KIR). Yesterday there was Perindo who stated that he was ready to join, and today PSI," said Airlangga.

Meanwhile, PSI General Chair Giring Ganesha hopes to be involved and contribute to the process of building and prospering the Indonesian people.

"We are ready to open the door of communication and collaboration with a large coalition," he said.