Indonesia Forward Coalition Prabowo Supporters, Zulhas: Mr. Jokowi's Continuation Is Indeed

JAKARTA - The General Chairperson of the National Mandate Party (PAN) explained the reason for the new name of the coalition of parties supporting Prabowo Subianto as a presidential candidate in 2024, similar to the cabinet name, namely the Advanced Indonesia Coalition.

According to Zulhas, the coalition of parties consisting of the Gerindra Party, Golkar, PAN, PKB, and PPP decided to determine the name of the Forward Indonesia Coalition because Prabowo would continue Jokowi's program if he was elected President.

"Yes, this is indeed a continuation of what has been done by Pak Jokowi," said Zulhas after the PAN 25th Anniversary event at the Sultan Hotel, Central Jakarta, Monday, August 28.

Moreover, Zulhas said that the political elites of his coalition parties are currently in the ranks of Jokowi's cabinet. So, according to him, the name of the Advanced Indonesia Coalition is a suitable name to describe Prabowo's supporters.

"After all, Mr. Airlangga (Ketum Golkar) The Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mr. Prabowo, the Minister of Trade, Cak Imin (Ketum PKB) has many ministers there too. So, this continues what has been built, carried out by Mr. Jokowi," explained Zulhas.

In the PAN Anniversary event, Prabowo announced the new name of the coalition that would nominate him as a presidential candidate in the 2024 presidential election to become the Advanced Indonesia Coalition. Prabowo admitted that this was decided before the PAN Anniversary event began.

Previously, the coalition carrying Prabowo was named the Greater Indonesia Awakening Coalition (KKIR) consisting of the Gerindra Party and PKB.

Now, after the Golkar Party, the National Mandate Party (PAN), and the Crescent Star Party (PBB) joined their coalition, Prabowo said the party leaders agreed to change the name of the coalition.

"Earlier we, the general chairmen, even though for a short time, Mr. Zul, Mr. Airlangga, Gus Imin, and Professor Yusril. We agreed to our coalition, we will name the Forward Indonesia Coalition," Prabowo explained in his remarks.

The name of the Forward Indonesia Coalition was previously used by the coalition that supported Joko Widodo and Ma'ruf Amin as presidential and vice presidential candidates in the 2019 election.

After Jokowi defeated Prabowo in the 2019 presidential election contestation and served as President for the 2019-2924 period, Jokowi brought this name in his cabinet, namely the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet.