Mahfud MD Affirms No Discussion On Vice Presidential Candidates With Megawati

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD gave a press statement at the Constitutional Court building, Jakarta, Tuesday (3/10/2023). BETWEEN/Cahya Sari

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD said there was no discussion regarding the offer to become a vice presidential candidate at every moment of his meeting with PDIP General Chair Megawati Soekarnoputri, including during the PDIP National Working Meeting IV.

"Oh, adakada, masanawarincawapres is there. Later on, Mrs. Mega's business will determine the schedule," Mahfud told reporters in Jakarta as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, October 3.

Mahfud said that he had indeed met Megawati, but there was no discussion about the vice presidential candidate accompanying the presidential candidate (readpres) Ganjar Pranowo.

According to him, the meeting only discussed the constitution and ideology in accordance with their respective realms, namely Megawati is also the Chair of the Steering Committee of the Pancasila Ideology Development Agency (BPIP).

Regarding a number of surveys and observer views that reveal that the Ganjar-Mahfud pair has a fairly high number of supporters, Mahfud is reluctant to comment.

According to him, this can move and change until the registration schedule for the presidential and vice presidential candidate pairs to the General Election Commission (KPU) starts from October 19 to November 25, 2023.

"Yes, it will develop according to our political developments and lead to the schedule later," said Mahfud.

Previously, Saiful Mujani researcherResearch and Consulting (SMRC) Saidiman Ahmad assessed the figures of Mr. X and Mrs. X mentioned

PDI-P Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto as Ganjar Pranowo's vice presidential candidate (cawapres) is Mahfud Md and Khofifah Indar Parawansa.

Saidiman Ahmad assessed that the two figures were Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) cadres and came from East Java.

According to him, if you look at the history of the PDI-P in the presidential election contestation, the party always cooperates with NU figures to become vice presidential candidates, except in the 2009 presidential election, when Megawati Soekarnoputri was paired with Prabowo Subianto.

"Mahfud considers the representation of NU and East Java. So far, NU and East Java have leaned towards Ganjar so that by bringing up Mahfud, it is possible to maintain a mass base," said Saidiman in Jakarta, Tuesday (26/9).

Saidiman explained that the PDI-P had an interest in maintaining the mass base, not moving because Anies Baswedan made efforts to attract the NU and East Java masses by recruiting Muhaimin Iskandar.