Ketum Projo Regarding Jokowi's Support For Prabowo-Gibran: Something That's Clear Doesn't Need To Be Clarified Anymore

JAKARTA - General Chairperson of Pro Jokowi Volunteers (Projo) Budi Arie Setiadi said President Joko Widodo clearly supports presidential and vice presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka in the 2024 presidential election.

"Something that is clear does not need to be clarified again," said Budi Arie when met at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, as reported by ANTARA, Friday, January 5.

He made this statement when asked for a response regarding the claim by the Secretary of the National Campaign Team (TKN) Prabowo-Gibran, Nusron Wahid, who said President Jokowi supports the candidate pair number 2.

When asked why Jokowi did not support Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD, who was promoted by the party where he belongs, namely the PDI-P, Budi asked reporters to directly ask President Jokowi.

"That's the case, it's clear. Just ask Mr. Jokowi," he said.

Despite confirming Jokowi's support for Prabowo-Gibran, Budi Arie said that support does not mean that the government will not be neutral in the upcoming elections.

"No, it's still (neutral) because it doesn't use state facilities here. So it's neutral," he said.

Budi, who also serves as Minister of Communication and Information Technology, commented on the polemic of the government's social assistance program which was accused by a number of parties of deliberately being used as a means of campaign ahead of the election.

"This is for the benefit of the people. Back to the interests of the people," he said.

Previously, the Secretary of TKN Prabowo-Gibran, Nusron Wahid, said that the Secretary General of the PDI-P Hasto Kristiyanto was panicking because President Jokowi was starting to appear to support Prabowo-Gibran, not Ganjar-Mahfud.

He conveyed this when answering Hasto's satire who said Prabowo could not blusukan like Jokowi or Ganjar.

According to Nusron, the accusation shows Hasto is panicking and is starting to lose issues to raise.

"So far, the champion (PDI Perjuangan) has always wanted to be linked with Pak Jokowi. And now it's clearly more in favor of Pak Prabowo and Mas Gibran. Yes, this is an expression of people who are confused, people who are panicking. Yes, it's okay for him to convey that," said Nusronmerujuk to Hasto.

In October 2023, Projo also declared his support for the Prabowo-Gibran pair.

As the Chair of Projo, Budi Arie assesses that Prabowo is a leader who is in accordance with the criteria for future leaders described by President Jokowi, namely leaders who never give up and have the courage and commitment to continue to advance the nation and prosper the people of Indonesia.

"Pak Prabowo is a true patriot," said Budi Arie.