Fadli Zon Says Gerindra Has A Tradition To Announce Vice Presidential Candidates In The Last Minute

Fadli Zon/ANTARA/Through Sustira K

JAKARTA - Deputy General Chairperson (Waketum) of the Gerindra Party, Fadli Zon, said that his party has a tradition of announcing the prospective vice presidential candidate (cawapres) in the final minutes before the closing of registration of presidential and vice presidential candidates.

"We know as in the past, also in 2019 (Pemilu), (Pemilu) in 2014, always in us it's a tradition that's alast minute. In fact, there were some hours before," said Fadli as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, August 9.

He assessed that the announcement of the candidate pair for presidential and vice presidential candidates in the final minute was also a surprise element as a strategy launched by his party.

"Yes, because it may also be part of a strategy, there is something called an acceleration of surprise. If it is announced from now on, it won't be complicated anymore," he said.

In addition, he said, the announcement of the name of the vice president does not need to be done in a hurry because in determining it many aspects must be considered.

"From the existing candidates who have determined that there are no definitive candidates, in fact, there are still many who are all refereed and see indicators through surveys and so on. So I think the tradition islast minute," he said.

Moreover, he continued, the name of the vice presidential candidate will be discussed carefully with the political party of the Greater Indonesia Awakening Coalition (KKIR).

"Surely it will be a very important discussion and consideration by Pak Prabowo and also Cak Imin (Chairman of PKB Muhaimin Iskandar) and others," he said.

Fadli emphasized that the relationship between the Gerindra Party and the National Awakening Party (PKB) is still going well until now.

"Regarding the contents of the presidential election, I think Pak Prabowo himself said that we are still solid together. Moreover, the time is still there is still room, yes. So the deadline for determining is still quite long, because that's why Pak Prabowo said, 'Gus (Chairman of PKB Muhaimin Iskandar) don't go anywhere like that'," he said.

Regarding a statement that said PKB would change coalitions because the Gerindra Party had never announced its vice presidential candidate, he considered it a dynamic of internal dissent.

"I think hopefully there will be no problems, yes, in politics it's normal if there are statements," he said.