PDIP Still Opens Opportunities For Coalition With Golkar Despite Supporting Prabowo

Chairman of the PDI-P DPP Puan Maharani stated that her party was still opening the door to a coalition for Golkar even though the party bearing the Beringin Tree logo had declared support for Prabowo Subianto.

Puan believes that the Golkar coalition with parties supporting Prabowo, who are members of the Greater Indonesia Awakening Coalition (KKIR), namely Gerindra, PKB, PAN, the Crescent Star Party (PBB), is still not final.

"Although Golkar is already with Pak Prabowo, it's (it's still not final, ed.), so it's just getting to the aisle," said Puan when met after chairing the DPR RI Plenary Meeting at the MPR/DPR RI Parliament Complex in Jakarta, Wednesday, August 16.

Puan conveyed that the PDI-P and Golkar had the same goals, intentions, and ideals. "The PDI-P is suitable (if it's in a coalition with Golkar, ed.). So, if there are factors that don't make it suitable, it needs to be asked to the General Chair (Golkar), Pak Airlangga. What is certain is that we will still open the door. We will not close the door," he said.

General Chairperson of Golkar Airlangga Hartarto last Sunday, August 13, announced his party carrying Prabowo Subianto as a presidential candidate for the 2024 Presidential Election (Pilpres). On the other hand, the PDI-P together with PPP, Perindo, Hanura, currently carries Ganjar Pranowo as a presidential candidate for the 2024 presidential election.

Regarding Golkar's support for Prabowo, Deputy Chairperson of the Gerindra Party DPP Budi Djiwandono said political parties that are members of the Greater Indonesia Awakening Coalition (KKIR) will soon form a joint secretariat (sekber) to facilitate the consolidation of winning.

The move to form the secretariat came after Golkar and the National Mandate Party (PAN) joined the KKIR and supported Prabowo Subianto as a presidential candidate (candidate) for the 2024 Presidential Election (Pilpres).

"(Sember formation) In the discussion, in the near future we will sit down together; and later a joint secretariat will be launched between supporters of Pak Prabowo," said Budi at the Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Wednesday, August 16.

Budi added that the formation of the secretary included discussing the figure of the prospective vice presidential candidate (cawapres) which will be juxtaposed with Prabowo Subianto. The registration of candidates for president and vice president is scheduled to take place from 19 October 2023 to 25 November 2023.