Airlangga Reveals Support For Prabowo For Presidential Candidate 2024: He Was Born To The Golkar Party

Golkar Chairman Airlangga Hartanto (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The General Chairperson of the Golkar Party, Airlangga, explained the reason why his party is now supporting the General Chair of the Gerindra Party, Prabowo Subianto, as a presidential candidate for the 2024 General Election.

Meanwhile, previously Golkar had formed a United Indonesia Coalition (KIB) with the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the United Development Party (PPP), which then turned to support Ganjar Pranowo as a presidential candidate promoted by PDIP.

According to Airlangga, his party supports Prabowo because the Minister of Defense was once a Golkar cadre, before finally establishing Gerindra. This was conveyed by Airlangga after the declaration of support for Golkar and PAN to Prabowo as a presidential candidate.

"Why did the Golkar Party make the choice to Mr. Prabowo Subianto? None other than because Mr. Lieutenant General, Mr. Prabowo Subianto was born from the womb of the Golkar Party," said Airlangga at the Proclamation Script Museum, Central Jakarta, Sunday, August 13.

The Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs said that currently Indonesia is faced with the challenge of a demographic bonus which is expected to lead it to become a developed country.

President Joko Widodo has targeted Indonesia to be included in the club of developed countries or the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) within the next 3-4 years.

"The process initiated by Mr. President Joko Widodo must be continued and we feel that Mr. Prabowo Subianto is the right figure to give birth to Indonesia into a developed country," said Airlangga.

Therefore, Airlangga hopes that the coalition of supporting presidential candidates by Golkar, Gerindra, PAN, and PKB can win Prabowo as President of the Republic of Indonesia and bring Indonesia through the middle income trap.

"I feel proud that 4 parties are united and in our attitude that we leaders of these 4 parties are easy to communicate, also have the same vision and mission. Of course the journey forward is still there and there are many things we need to talk about," explained Airlangga.

Meanwhile, PAN Chairman Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas) admitted that he finally supported Prabowo as a presidential candidate because these two parties had been in coalition since Prabowo ran as a presidential candidate in 2014 and 2019.

Zulhas wants to continue the coalition, although Prabowo has not been elected President of the Republic of Indonesia in the last 10 years.

"Through careful consideration, the Central Leadership Council of the National Mandate Party has decided to provide support for the 2024-2029 presidential candidate to Lieutenant General Prabowo Subianto," said Zulhas.

"Why did PAN make that decision? We have 10 years together with Pak Prabowo. If you stay a little, why can't you wait? We believe the 10-year struggle will be over," he added.

Responding to Golkar and PAN's declaration, Prabowo said he was grateful that the coalition of the four parties had expressed support for him to continue the government after Joko Widodo if he was elected President in the 2024 General Election.

"I feel very touched, very strengthened by me with the great trust of these big and historic parties. This is truly an honor for me which also makes me determined not to disappoint the hopes of these parties and especially the hopes of all Indonesian people," said Prabowo.