Encouraged By The Early Declaration Of Presidential Candidates And Coalition, PDIP: What For? Election Is Still Long

JAKARTA - PDIP is responding to the push for political parties to declare coalitions and presidential candidates to be carried in the 2024 Presidential Election (Pilpres) early.

A senior PDIP politician, Hendrawan Supratikno, questioned the purpose of the early declaration. Because, he emphasized, the time for holding the 2024 presidential election is still long. After all, according to him, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi)'s second term of leadership has just entered its third year.

"Why the early declaration. First, this is only Pak Jokowi's third year in his second term. In fact, 2022 is the first year of post-pandemic recovery acceleration. Second, the election is still long,” said Hendrawan, Thursday, September 9.

Hendrawan explained that the political costs incurred would be even greater if the political parties moved earlier. In fact, said the member of Commission XI of the DPR, 2022 is the time for Indonesia to host the G20 (Group of Twenty) presidency.

"So we have to focus on maintaining that honor," he said. He also considered that political parties would not be in a hurry to declare candidates. Because, must be prepared carefully so that the results are as expected. "The more mature the considerations in determining the presidential candidates and coalitions, the better results will be," said Hendrawan.

Previously, the Prabowo-Puan Volunteers asked the Gerindra Party and PDIP to declare or form a coalition early on to carry Prabowo Subianto-Puan Maharani as presidential and vice-presidential candidates for 2024. Even the volunteer who is on behalf of the Prabowo Puan Axis National Presidium invites other parties to form a coalition.

"We strongly agree with the idea that political parties and/or coalitions of political parties should immediately announce coalitions early," said the Prabowo-Puan Axis Declarator, Andianto in his press statement Wednesday, December 8.

According to Andianto, an earlier declaration can provide political education to the people. The people are given ample time to assess, choose, and decide on the most appropriate partner for Indonesia's future leader.

"This is a positive tradition for a more precise election of leaders in Indonesia," said Andianto.

Andianto admitted that the proposal had also been submitted to the Gerindra Party and PDIP. He said his proposal received a positive response from both parties.

"Hopefully what is needed by the people and the Indonesian nation can be answered and resolved by Prabowo and Puan," said Andianto.