PPP Says There Is Potential For Airlangga To Be KIB Presidential Candidate, Observer: Fresh Wind For Coalition To Carry Internal Figures

Chairman of the political parties of the United Indonesia Coalition (KIB) / SPECIAL DOC

JAKARTA - PPP has stated that until now there is no indication that KIB will look at presidential candidates (candidates) from outside the coalition. This means that so far KIB is still seeking internal candidates for president, both from Golkar, PPP and PAN.

The issue is strong, the General Chairperson of Golkar, Airlangga Hartarto, will be nominated as a presidential candidate. Regarding the vice presidential candidate, it is still being considered whether Airlangga will be paired with PPP General Chair Suharso Monoarfa, or PAN Chair Zulkifli Hasan.

Executive Director of Indonesia Political Review (IPR) Ujang Komarudin, assessed that the news of Airlangga's candidacy was a breath of fresh air for the United Indonesia Coalition (KIB). According to him, the coalition needs a presidential candidate with good electability to be carried in the 2024 presidential election.

"This is certainly a breath of fresh air for Airlangga. After all, KIB needs a presidential candidate who has good electability. As said by DPD Golkar, the electability is increasing," said Ujang in Jakarta, Tuesday, August 9.

Previously, the Golkar DPD of Malang Regency held an audit of the organization, Rapimda, and Rakerda. On that occasion, the Malang Regency Golkar DPD asked General Chair Airlangga Hartarto to immediately declare himself running as a presidential candidate in the 2024 presidential election.

In addition, a number of inter-professional communities calling themselves Barisan Volunteers Airlangga Hartarto (Baralangga) declared support for the Coordinating Minister for the Economy as a presidential candidate (Capres) in 2024.

Ujang said that the support was a good opportunity for Airlangga to become a KIB presidential candidate. According to him, competition in KIB must be seen from sound indicators. Where, Golkar's acquisition was higher than PPP and PAN in the 2019 Election, both the number of votes and the number of seats in the DPR.

"This means that in the context of political calculations and rationalization, the Golkar presidential candidate can be Airlangga," said Ujang.

In addition, said Ujang, Airlangga's candidacy also shows the pride of the parties who are members of KIB because they are able to carry candidates from internal KIB. "But what is good is when KIB carries internal presidential candidates because it is related to the party's pride and KIB," he said.

Ujang said that requests from internal party and community cadres were not unusual. Because Airlangga already has the party's permission to go forward.

"So it's not strange and it's not surprising that there are many internal cadres who want Pak Airlangga to immediately declare a presidential candidate, including those from Malang Regency. Then it's not strange and it's not surprising that there are many communities that support Airlangga," he said.