Still With Gerindra, Observers Advise PPP Not Hope Many To Sandiaga Uno

JAKARTA - Algebraic Executive Director Strategic Arifki Chaniago suggested the United Development Party (PPP) no longer hopes that Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno will be part of the political party bearing the Kaaba symbol.

"The approach of the United Development Party to Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno was in vain, because Sandiaga did not show any desire to join PPP," said Arifki Chaniago as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, February 20.

On various occasions, according to Arifki, Sandiaga even frankly said he remained "straight" with Gerindra. Then, on many other occasions, the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf) of the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet also showed that he was still at Gerindra, including attending the Gerindra grand event in Banten on Sunday.

"The PPP effort introduced Sandiaga to party figures and masses in various regions apparently in vain, because there was not a single code that said Sandiaga would join. Moreover, Sandi explicitly said that he bowed to the Gerindra Party and its General Chair, Prabowo Subianto," he explained.

Therefore, he added, PPP should be realistic by shifting the target to other figures, especially figures who are currently not affiliated with any political party. This non-party figure, he added, is more realistic and also makes it easier to communicate because it does not have to depend on permission from certain parties.

He gave an example of the figure of a non-party, among others, the Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir. Arifki assessed that Erick Thohir was a person who did not have or was bound by one of the certain political parties. "It would be even better if PPP built a mutually beneficial relationship with Erick Thohir," he said.

"PPP still has time to attract other figures to endorse, for example focusing on SOE Minister Erick Thohir or others. So, there is a mutualism relationship or mutual benefit between the party and the figure," said Arifki Chaniago.