NasDem: Scoping Coalition With PKS And Democrats Has Nothing To Do With SBY-JK

DOK VOI/Ketum NasDem Surya Paloh when meeting PKS President Ahmad Syaikhu/PHOTO: Nailin In Saroh

JAKARTA - The NasDem Party denies that the exploration of the coalition axis with PKS and the Democratic Party has anything to do with the meeting of the 6th President of the Republic of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) and former Vice President Jusuf Kalla (JK) in Cikeas some time ago.

"Before Pak JK and SBY met, NasDem had met with political party leaders many times. Not only with Democrats, previously with Gerindra as well as PKS, there were others. So it was a normal meeting, not because of their meeting," said the chairman of the NasDem DPP. Saan Mustopa told reporters, Wednesday, June 29.

Regarding SBY-JK being called the 'king maker' in the nomination of Anies Baswedan in the upcoming 2024 presidential election, Saan assessed that the meeting of the two national figures was reasonable in the context of friendship. Therefore, it does not need to be considered as political mapping ahead of election preparations.

"It's just an ordinary relationship, and I think it's a natural thing. So don't understand it, it's interpreted beyond that," said the Deputy Chair of Commission II of the DPR. Saan also admitted that he did not see SBY-JK being the king maker in the 2024 presidential election. Moreover, he encouraged the candidacy of the Anies-AHY pair to be carried by NasDem, PKS and Democrats. Moreover, SBY had previously met with the chairman of the NasDem, Surya Paloh and the chairman of the Democrats.

"No, as the head of the political parties, it is natural to communicate. This is the head of each political party. In fact, before the election, the presidents of political parties do not communicate with each other, in my opinion, it is not quite right," said Saan.

"But right before the (elections), it is necessary to improve the quality of elections. This is a very important 5-year national agenda," he continued.

Even though he never wanted to run for office, Saan said that the Ketum NasDem Surya Paloh had no ambition to become a king maker in the 2024 presidential election.

"No, we don't think about whether we want to be king makers or not. But this is a natural thing, every political party chairman carries out a communication process with other political party presidents or other politicians," he concluded.

Previously, political observers from UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Adi Prayitno assessed that their meeting was not limited to the romance of old friends. However, to discuss the 2024 presidential election map, SBY and JK are willing to meet face to face.

"I'm trying to translate, because if it's limited to meeting old romantic friends, I think in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it's better to go by zoom or by phone. Even sitting between Mr. JK and Mr. SBY far away to avoid COVID-19," said Adi when met in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, Friday, June 24.

According to the Executive Director of the Indonesian Political Paramater, JK and SBY talked about the candidacy of DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan. Because JK is Anies' mentor in politics.

"I suspect that because the conversation is not by phone, it will definitely talk about 2024, so face to face. We remember exactly when we saw Anies, it was JK's face. Because JK is Anies' main mentor," he explained.

Adi said that the discussion about the direction of the 2024 presidential election coalition as well as the world of national politics began to heat up because the two national figures had started to descend the mountain. Moreover, there are no incumbents in the upcoming presidential election contestation.

"This is going down the mountain because in 2024 the battle will be flat, there is no candidate who then wins significantly and there is no incumbent. This can actually interpret that the SBY and JK meeting went down the mountain as an effort in 2024. They can be a coalition and of course to win in 2024," he explained.

"Whatever the title, SBY and JK have worked together and won the presidential election. Now these are the two king makers who I think have come down the mountain and they can translate this for the benefit of 2024," he added.