Ganjar Pranowo Invited By Golkar And PKB, PDIP Still Calm

Ganjar Pranowo (Photo via Central Java Provincial Government)

JAKARTA - Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo is currently on the hunt for a presidential candidate to run for the 2024 presidential election. However, the PDI-P, where Ganjar belongs, has not yet decided who will run for the contest in 2024.

In various political surveys, the name Ganjar often dominates the throne of the general champion of the presidential candidate. Ganjar and Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto regularly exchange positions.

If Prabowo is clear, the Gerindra Party will make sure to re-nominate him as a presidential candidate. Then what about Ganjar after the PDI-P, who still looks calm.

A number of other parties have started to tease Ganjar.

Initially, the offer came from the Deputy Chairperson of the Golkar Party, Nurdin Halid. He said Golkar was open to Ganjar Pranowo if he did not get a place in the PDIP. In particular, to accompany the General Chairman of the Golkar Party, Airlangga Hartarto as his vice-presidential candidate.

Deputy Chairperson of the Golkar Party DPP, Nurdin Halid, said that his party would be open if the Governor of Central Java who is also a PDIP cadre, Ganjar Pranowo, wanted to join the 2024 Presidential Election (Pilpres).

"If Ganjar doesn't have a place in his party, Golkar is open. Whether to be number 1 or number 2, that's a matter of later," said Nurdin at the Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Thursday, November 11.

Nurdin opened the opportunity if Ganjar wanted to accompany the General Chairman of the Golkar Party, Airlangga Hartarto. Because, he said, it was impossible for Airlangga Hartarto to run alone because there had to be a representative in the 2024 presidential election contestation.

Nurdin even mentioned that if the aspirations of the Ganjarist Volunteers do not have a place "at home", then there is a new "house" that can be entered. This analogy is in line with the PDIP which has yet to give approval for Ganjar's advancement in the upcoming presidential election.

Not only Golkar, now the National Awakening Party (PKB) is also opening the door for Ganjar Pranowo. The party, which is chaired by Muhaimin Iskandar, stated that he would give Ganjar space to fight in 2024.

"PKB is open to anyone, especially Mas Ganjar," said PKB DPP chairman Daniel Johan, Friday, November 12.

According to Daniel, Ganjar is the ideal person to be a vice presidential candidate accompanying the General Chair, Muhaimin Iskandar. Because, he said, all internal cadres had agreed to ask Muhaimin alias Cak Imin alias Gus Muhaimin as a presidential candidate.

"All bases and party structures ask Cak Imin to come forward. Personally, Cak Imin-Ganjar is also suitable," said Daniel.

So, what did the PDIP say?

PDIP has opened its voice about the Golkar Party's offer which opens the door for its cadre, Ganjar Pranowo, to join if he wants to participate in the 2024 presidential election contestation.

Responding to this, PDIP senior politician Hendrawan Supratikno said that PDIP did not want to be carried away by Golkar's statement which was considered to be 'checking the waves'. According to him, currently PDIP or other political parties are better off focusing on the duties of their respective parties.

"Every time someone checks the waves, don't keep shouting. Later we will dance to the beat of a pseudo-orchestration. So it's better if we just focus on our main tasks. The political industry should not be noisy too early," said Hendrawan to VOI, Thursday, 11 November.

Because, continued Hendrawan, the presidential and vice presidential pairs as well as the coalition of political parties are still being discussed. So, he said, it takes focus and calm for all elements of the party.

"Everyone knows that the candidate pair will be determined by a political party or a combination of political parties. Now everyone is doing political mapping and calculations. So let everyone do contemplation in the shade," said Hendrawan.