Democrats Confirm Emil Dardak Accompanies Khofifah In East Java, Gerindra: Prabowo Decides

The Governor of East Java for the 2019-2024 period Khofifah Indar Parawansa (central) took a photo with the Deputy Governor of East Java for the 2019-2024 period Emil Elestianto Dardak (right) ANTARA/HO-LDII East Java.

JAKARTA - The Gerindra Party has opened its voice about the Democratic Party's mandate to Emil Dardak to return to partner with Khofifah Indar Parawansa in the 2024 East Java gubernatorial election. Gerindra emphasized that the cagub and cawagub pairs to be promoted by the party will be decided by the General Chair, Prabowo Subianto. It is known, Gerindra himself has stated that he will carry Khofifah but not for her deputy. "If I see it, it's appropriate. Only if the decision is made at Gerindra after seeing it, it is in Pak Prabowo who will decide," said Deputy Chairperson of Gerindra, Habiburokhman at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Monday, May 6. Habiburokhman explained that Gerindra is still formulating a figure who will be supported in the 2024 Pilkada. The formulation, according to him, depends on the composition of the coalition with other parties. "So you can't (respectively, ed). I think it's very little good for the provincial, district and city elections where the Gerindra party can decide for itself. Because the seats are not enough," he explained. Therefore, said Habiburokhman, Gerindra still needs to communicate well with Khofifah as a cagub promoted by supporting political parties. "Mrs. Khofifah, whether with Mr. Emil or with whom, we communicated first with friends from the Advanced Indonesia Coalition. The second was with other political parties," he said. Previously, the former Deputy Governor of East Java who is also the chairman of the East Java Democratic DPD Emil Dardak, admitted that he had received a mandate from the Democratic DPP to accompany Khofifah Indar Parawansa in the 2024 East Java Pilkada. Emil admitted that he is currently communicating with various elements of society, community leaders and other political parties. "We want to finalize our plans towards the upcoming elections. Well of course because this is a process that must respect too, of course we have communicated to say this as a couple," said Emil, Thursday, May 2.

Emil said the Democrats had conveyed to continue the format by holding talks with Golkar, Gerindra, and PAN who had provided official security support to Khofifah. "But with all elements of the party in East Java, we communicated together," he said.