PKS Responds To The Discourse On The Ganjar Pranowo-Anies Baswedan Duet

Presidential Candidate Anies Baswedan at the PKS event in Bogor (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The President of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), Ahmad Syaikhu, emphasized that his party's attitude has not changed in the 2024 presidential election, namely supporting Anies Baswedan as a presidential candidate (candidate).

This statement was made following the discourse of juxtaposing Ganjar Pranowo and Anies Baswedan in the 2024 presidential election. The chairman of the United Development Party (PPP) Election Winning Body, Sandiaga Uno even admitted that he was ready to embrace PKS and the Democratic Party to fight together over the discourse.

"We at PKS stick to what has been decided by the eighth Syuro Council Deliberation. It is very clear that his decision to decide Anies Baswedan as a presidential candidate. So that is what we continue to strengthen with meetings like this (coup meeting, ed)," said Syaikhu, Saturday, August 27.

Syaikhu added, in determining the vice presidential candidate, PKS also freed Anies from choosing his partner, provided that according to their criteria, namely religious nationalists.

"The important thing is that we have given him criteria. (His criteria, Red) are religious nationalists. Then, he can agree with Mr. Anies, and have a big chance of winning. So by pairing it boosts the electability of the pair, not downs the grade," he said.

Syaikhu said that the PKS stance to free Anies from choosing a vice presidential candidate was contained in the coalition charter.

"The coalition charter is clear, it's just a matter of Mr. Anies. We understand the right timing to announce it and who will be his companion. The important thing is that we have given him criteria," explained Syaikhu.

"Everything was handed over to Mr. Anies. When will it be announced, I think he is wise to determine who he is and when," he added.

Syaikhu emphasized that he would focus on winning Anies as president and will move after Anies' vice president is announced.

"The important thing is that after being declared, we really work all out of these three parties to win this pair," said Syaikhu.

On Saturday morning, Anies also recently visited the residence of the Chairman of the PKS Syuro Council, Salim Asegaf in the Pejaten area, South Jakarta. Anies' arrival was a series of meetings previously held with the Chairman of the Nasdem Party, Surya Paloh, and the Chairman of the Upper House of the Democratic Party, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY).

"The meeting enriched the provisions we could bring on our journey forward. We equate steps, equalize strategies to undergo the days ahead, weeks ahead and have an agreement on the direction of strategy steps. So the direction given by Pak Surya Paloh, Pak SBY, and Habib Salim is the same. They are all of the same view," said Anies after meeting with Salim Asegaf.