PAN Awaits PSI's Official Decision To Candidate Kaesang In Central Java Gubernatorial Election

PSI Chairman Kaesang Pangarep at a press conference at NasDem Tower, Jakarta, Monday (22/7/2024). (ANTARA/Narda Margaretha Sinambela)

JAKARTA - The National Mandate Party (PAN) responded to the discourse of nominating PSI General Chair, Kaesang Pangarep in the 2024 Pilkada Central Java contestation. Deputy Chairman of PAN, Viva Yoga Mauladi, said his party was waiting for the official decision of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) to nominate its general chairman in the Central Java gubernatorial election. "There has been no official decision. We are waiting for the official decision of Kaesang and PSI," Viva told reporters, Wednesday, July 24. Viva revealed that currently PAN is considering carrying the Central Java (Central Java) Police Chief Inspector General Ahmad Luthfi, running as a candidate for governor of Central Java. So far, political parties (political parties) that are members of the Advanced Indonesia Coalition (KIM) have tended to support the three-star general. "So, if there is a discourse on Mas Kaesang running in Central Java, we are waiting for PSI's official decision," said Viva. Previously, the Gerindra Party had decided to carry Ahmad Lutfi as a candidate for governor of Central Java in the 2024 Pilkada. Secretary General of the Gerindra Party, Ahmad Muzani, said that Lutfi would soon retire from his position to prepare himself as a candidate for the Central Java cagub which will be registered on 27 August. "In time, pa Lutfi may soon retire from the position of regional police chief or active police to immediately prepare himself as a candidate for governor," said Muzani at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Monday, June 22, evening. Muzani ensured that after retiring from the National Police Ahmad Lutfi would immediately step on the gas to seek political party support. "And maybe after that, the intensity of political communication with parties including party officials will be intensified. Because his position is also inactive as a member of the Indonesian police," he continued. Apart from Gerindra, the Golkar Party also gave a signal that it would carry Ahmad Lutfi forward for the Central Java gubernatorial election. However, the Secretary General (Sekjen) of the Golkar Party DPP Lodewijk F. Paulus said his party was in a position to wait for Lutfi to retire as the Central Java Police Chief.

"So we are waiting for him to retire. There is time to say that 7-10 days the survey will also run," said Lodewijk at the Golkar DPP office in the Slipi area, West Jakarta, Thursday. According to Lodewijk, Golkar really respects Ahmad Luthfi's professionalism in carrying out his duties as Kapolda. Therefore, his party did not want to give a political instruction to Ahmad Luthfi.