NasDem, PKS And Democrats Response After Jusuf Kalla Proposed The Name Of Anies' Vice Presidential Candidate

NasDem fasting was attended by KIB officials including the promoted presidential candidate, Anies Baswedan. (Twitter @aniesbaswedan)

JAKARTA - The Coalition for Amendments to Unity (KPP) responded to the statements of the 10th and 12th Vice Presidents of the Republic of Indonesia, Jusuf Kalla (JK), who claimed to have provided input on the name of the vice presidential candidate (cawapres) to Anies Baswedan. The NasDem Party said that JK's proposal regarding Anies' vice presidential candidate was still just a criterion, namely considering figures from East Java.

"Mr. JK is input, the criteria are, if we have to be people from East Java," said Deputy Chairperson of NasDem Ahmad Ali, Monday, March 27. The reason JK considers figures from East Java, said Ali, is to help Anies fill the sound barn which is considered weak. Like East Java and Central Java.

"Mr. JK also discussed several times, his tendency was to choose representatives who could fill the void in areas where Mr. Anies was weak in his voice. We cannot cover up that today Mas Anies is in Central Java, East Java, it is weak. So, if Mas Anies wants to win the contestation, he has to cover his weakness," Ali explained.

According to Ali, it is difficult for Anies to win if he does not take the bags of sound in Central Java and East Java. Because, the two areas are the most populous.

"Look, if people want to win, East Java and Central Java have a lot of population. If that's not a consideration, I'm pessimistic that Mas Anies can be the winner," said Ali.

Even so, Ali was reluctant to confirm that the figure in question was the Governor of East Java Khofifah Indar Parawansa.

"If we don't talk about names, we will talk about the criteria. If the name will be subjective, later the political party will formulate, Mas Anies will decide," he said. The proposal from Jusuf Kalla also received a good response from PKS. PKS DPP chairman Mardani Ali Sera called JK's input a politician with good experience for Anies.

"Mr. JK is experienced and wise. Efforts to give cawapres to Mr. Anies are a sign that he is concerned and pays attention. Good for Mr. Anies to get support from Mr. Jk," said Mardani, Monday, March 27.

Nevertheless, he continued, the decision regarding the name of the vice presidential candidate remains in the hands of Anies. Of course, with the consideration of PKS, NasDem, and Democrats as the supporting parties.

"Input from anywhere is permissible and good. But the decision is still taken by the presidential candidate, taking into account the main input from the supporting political party," he said.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party denied that Jusuf Kalla had proposed the name of the vice presidential candidate to Anies Baswedan. Deputy of Bappilu DPP of the Democratic Party Kamhar Lakumani, said that JK only provided input and views regarding Vice President Anies who could help electoral contributions, especially in East Java.

"To our knowledge, what Mr. JK said was in the form of a view that the Vice Presidential Candidate Mas Anies could contribute to the electoral sector in East Java. So it doesn't deposit names," said Kamhar in his statement, Monday, March 27.

Kamhar explained that JK provided this input because the electoral Anies in East Java and Central Java were still weak. The assessment was seen from the results of several survey results on the KPP presidential reading.

"As reflected in the results of various survey institutions, Mas Anies needs a companion who can make electoral contributions, especially in large areas that are still relatively weak, such as East Java and Central Java," explained Kamhar. "Between East Java and Central Java, East Java has a greater potential for additional support. Perhaps this is what underlies Pak JK's thoughts and proposals," he continued.

Nevertheless, Kamhar admitted, the input from JK, who is a senior Golkar politician, was in line with what was recorded in the cooperation charter for the pro-Anies coalition of parties.

"So what Mr. JK said was in the form of criteria that were in line with one of the criteria for Mas Anies' companion candidates which had been agreed upon in the three-party cooperation charter, namely contributing to winning," said Kamhar. However, JK submitted the decision to Anies as the KPP presidential candidate.

"Yes, it will definitely depend on Mr. Anies, which parties, which ones are suitable," said JK after opening together at NasDem Tower, Jakarta, Saturday, March 25.

JK also only revealed the criteria for vice presidential candidates that are suitable to accompany Anies. The character who becomes the vice presidential candidate, he said, must be able to boost votes and cooperate with Anies. However, JK does not want to answer whether the name proposed to Anies is Governor Khofifah. "Not yet," said JK briefly.