Vice President Ma'ruf Conveys Selamat Dan Restui Mahfud MD Jadi Cawapres Ganjar

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin after visiting Posyandu in Batang Kuis District, Deli Serdang, North Sumatra, Wednesday (18/10/2023). ANTARA/Minister Dwi Gayati

MEDAN - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin congratulated and approved Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD as a candidate for vice president (cawapres) who accompanied Ganjar Pranowo.

Vice President Ma'ruf said the congratulations were conveyed when Mahfud MD met him at the official residence on Wednesday morning, before PDIP announced the vice presidential candidate accompanying Ganjar Pranowo.

"Yes, he said goodbye to me and told me he wanted to be used as a vice presidential candidate. Maybe I, as an NU person who was old, said goodbye to me. Yes, I said congratulations," said the vice president after a visit to Batang Kuis District, Deli Serdang, North Sumatra, reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, October 18.

Ma'ruf explained that his meeting with Mahfud meant to say goodbye before he was announced as a vice presidential candidate.

The vice president hopes that Mahfud MD, who is also nahdliyin, can carry out his duties if he is later elected as vice president for the 2024-2029 period.

"Hopefully, if elected later, we can carry out their duties, continue the good things that we have done now and then improve if there are those who are not good, make future improvements," said Ma'ruf.

The vice president also approved Mahfud MD to become a vice presidential candidate. He also assessed that Mahfud, who is paired with Ganjar Pranowo, both have experience as a leader.

"I see Mr. Ganjar is also good, he was once a member of the DPR, was once a governor for two terms, meaning he had experience. So it is appropriate for him to become a presidential candidate. The base is there," said Ma'ruf.

In a separate interview, Mahfud said he had met with the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia Ma'ruf Amin in Jakarta on Wednesday morning.

"I met at half past seven. Why? I should have gone to the President first, right, when I was told yesterday I should have gone to the President, because the President went abroad, so I went to the Vice President first," said Mahfud MD.