Ganjar Admits He Was Late In Attending The Marriage Of The Grand Imam Of The Istiqlal Mosque

Ganjar Pranowo and Nasaruddin Umar. (IST)

JAKARTA - The candidate for president of the Republic of Indonesia from the PDI-P Ganjar Pranowo said that he had known the figure of the Grand Imam of the Istiqlal Mosque Nasaruddin Umar for a long time, and said that their relationship was good.

"I have known him for a long time," said Ganjar to reporters, Antara, Thursday, May 18.

Ganjar even revealed that he was once late for the wedding of Nasaruddin Umar's son. However, Nasaruddin is still waiting for Ganjar's presence.

"When I got married to his son, I also came. In fact, I came late, wait," he said.

Therefore, Ganjar said that the relationship between himself and Nasaruddin was well established and had been going on for a long time.

"Yes, my relationship is good, it's been a long time," said Ganjar.

When asked about the news about the vice presidential candidate to accompany him, Ganjar said that there had been no discussion that had narrowed towards the nomination of the vice president.

"Not yet, the vice president will talk between parties later. So, at the time, when cooperation between parties has begun, it will be narrowed, it will definitely be discussed (about the vice president)," said Ganjar.

Previously, Ganjar Pranowo attended halalbihalal with Islamic leaders in North Sulawesi (Sulut) with the Grand Imam of the Istiqlal Mosque Nasaruddin Umar after gathering with Christian religious leaders.

Ganjar was present with Nasaruddin Umar in the midst of the hectic issue related to Nasaruddin Umar as a vice presidential candidate who would accompany Ganjar.

Chairman of the Advisory Council of PPP Romahurmuziy said that Nasaruddin was indeed a national figure who was traced to become Ganjar Pranowo's vice presidential candidate.

"Kyai Nasaruddin Umar is a national figure that we are tracking to become vice presidential candidate Mas Ganjar," said Rommy in his statement, received in Jakarta, Tuesday (16/5).

Based on the schedule set by the General Election Commission (KPU) of the Republic of Indonesia, the registration of prospective presidential and vice presidential candidates is scheduled to start from October 19 to November 25, 2023.

As regulated in Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning General Elections (UU Pemilu), pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates are proposed by political parties or coalitions of political parties participating in the election who meet the requirements for obtaining seats of at least 20 percent of the total number of seats in the DPR or obtaining 25 percent of valid votes nationally in the previous election for members of the DPR.

Currently, there are 575 seats in parliament so that pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates in the 2024 presidential election must have at least 115 seats in the DPR RI. In addition, candidate pairs can also be promoted by political parties or a combination of political parties participating in the 2019 Election with a total valid vote acquisition of at least 34,992,703 votes.