Prabowo Affirms Support For Presidential Candidates From Golkar-PAN Is Not Jokowi's Directive

Declaration of support for Golkar and PAN (Photo: Diah Ayu/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Golkar Party and PAN officially expressed their support for General Chair Prabowo Subianto as a presidential candidate for the 2024 General Election. Prabowo emphasized that the support of these two parties was not a directive from President Joko Widodo. This was conveyed by Prabowo after the declaration of support for Golkar and PAN with Golkar Chairman Airlangga Hartarto, PAN General Chair Zulkifli Hasan, and PKB General Chair Muhaimin Iskandar. The Minister of Defense emphasized that Jokowi is the head of state who respects the attitude of their respective political parties. "Pak Jokowi is a very democratic person. So, he really respects the independence and rights of every political party. I think that's what I have to emphasize," Prabowo said at the Proclamation Script Formulation Museum, Menteng, Central Jakarta, Sunday, August 13. For example, said Prabowo, Jokowi did not interfere when the Perindo Party previously came to Gerindra to provide his support to Prabowo in the 2023 presidential election contestation, before finally the party led by Hary Tanoesoedibjo changed its direction to support Ganjar Pranowo. "Whatever party decision, my experience and my belief I think all ketum (also sure), he (Jokowi) will not prohibit, will not dictate. In fact, so. There is a lot of evidence," explained Prabowo. Similarly, PAN Chairman Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas) also emphasized that his decision to move closer to the Gerindra coalition and PKB was not an order from Jokowi. "Is there any approval from Pak Jokowi? From the President there is no direction, so this is our joint decision," said Zulhas.

Previously, Golkar had formed a United Indonesia Coalition (KIB) with the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the United Development Party (PPP). However, then PPP turned to support Ganjar Pranowo as a presidential candidate promoted by PDIP.