Zulhas Talks Politics With Jokowi Ahead Of Presidential Candidate Registration

Chairman of PAN Zulkifli Hasan at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Tuesday (10/10/2023). BETWEEN/Indra Arief Pribadi

JAKARTA - Chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) Zulkifli Hasan admitted to talking about political affairs with President Joko Widodo at the Jakarta Presidential Palace, ahead of the registration period for presidential and vice presidential candidates in 2024.

"(Talking) about the political affairs a little bit," said Zulhas, Zulkifli Hasan's nickname, as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, October 10.

Today Zulkifli met with the President to discuss trade in his capacity as Minister of Trade. On the sidelines of discussing the trade, he also discussed politics with Jokowi.

He said that currently it is getting closer to the registration period for presidential and vice presidential candidates set on 19 October-25 November 2023.

Zulhas as the assistant minister of the President felt the need to report things he would do, including politics.

"Yes, this is near 19-25, right, we have to register, right? Yes, I am an assistant to the President. Yes, whatever, I just report to you leaving the country, do I report it," he explained.

Nevertheless, Zulhas stated that there was absolutely no directive from the President regarding PAN's decision in politics.

"But the directives are not (there is no directive from the President regarding politics)," he said.