Ngabalin Ensures Jokowi Doesn't Intervene In Anies Baswedan's Assistance In The 2024 Presidential Election

Anies Baswedan during his time as Governor of DKI Jakarta met with the Chairman of the DPP Nasdem Party Surya Paloh at the NasDem Headquarters on Wednesday, July 24, 2019 (Between-Fauzi)

JAKARTA - Main Expert Staff of the Presidential Staff Office (KSP) Ali Mochtar Ngabalin emphasized that President Joko Widodo was not fussy about Anies' companion to the presidential candidate (candidate) Anues Baswedan in the 2024 presidential election.

Ngabalin said that after being asked about the possibility that the President would participate in influencing Anies Baswedan's decision to pair Anies Baswedan with PKB General Chair Muhaimin Iskandar alias Cak Imin.

"No, the President certainly cannot participate in any decisions of political party leaders or like Mas Anies, given full authority by the NasDem Party. If Anies then considers it suitable for PKB and Muhaimin Iskandar, why should Jokowi take part in the jokes there, "said Ngabalin, Friday, September 1.

Ngabalin emphasized that if Anies Baswedan feels compatible with PKB and Cak Imin, then why should Joko Widodo take part in the jokes?

"There is something that is not synchronized. Meanwhile, the President does not have the authority to carry out internal affairs of political parties, presidential and vice-presidential candidates," he explained.

The President himself had previously said that his meeting with the Chairman of the NasDem Party, Surya Paloh, at the State Palace in Jakarta, Thursday, August 31, did not mention the topic about the Anies Baswedan-Cak Imin duet in the 2024 presidential election contestation.

"Yes, ordinary meetings, regular meetings, yes, meeting, yes, ordinary meetings," said President Jokowi on the sidelines of a review of preparations for the ASEAN 2023 Summit at JCC, Senayan, Jakarta, Friday, September 1.

Jokowi said the meeting did not discuss the plan for the Anies-Cak Imin duet as a presidential and vice presidential candidate promoted by the National Awakening Party (PKB) and NasDem.

"Nothing at all, nothing," he said.

The issue of pairing Anies with Muhaimin was first voiced by the Democratic Party. According to the Democrats, the NasDem Party has unilaterally asked Anies Baswedan to accept Cak Imin as a future vice presidential assistant in the 2024 presidential election.

Surya Paloh's meeting with Jokowi at the Palace was once mentioned as Paloh's move to report to Jokowi about this.

However, Surya Paloh has denied this directly.