PDIP Calls SBY Overacting Because Elections Are Set For Only 2 Candidates

Illustration of PDI Perjuangan (PDIP). (Antaranews)

JAKARTA - The PDI-P (PDIP) has denied accusations by the chairman of the Democratic Party's Upper House, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), that the 2024 presidential election is governed by only two pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates.

Senior PDIP politician Hendrawan Supratikno said that SBY's assessment was exaggerated. Because according to him, parties have the ability to determine their own destiny in elections.

"A reasonable assumption, but excessive or exaggerated," said Hendrawan, quoted Monday, September 19.

Hendrawan explained that SBY's statement could make sense because the consolidation of cooperation between political parties could lead to the plan.

"But it's silly because it's based on the assumption that the party does not have the authority to determine what is best for itself," said the member of the DPR.

Hendrawan also hopes that the 6th President of the Republic of Indonesia will stop making allegations that seem to accuse the ruling political party of 'playing' for the sake of his party's electoral interests.

Hendrawan warned that such speculations would actually drain the nation's energy.

"I hope that prejudices or assumptions that arise from the positioning of political parties for electoral interests do not need to be produced continuously. Apart from portraying democracy as the same as a conspiracy, these speculative allegations will drain the nation's energy and social capital," said Hendrawan.

Previously, SBY admitted that he had received information that the upcoming 2024 election would only be arranged for two pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates.

The allegation was conveyed by SBY to Democratic Party cadres during the 2022 National Leadership Meeting (Rapimnas) at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), Senayan, Central Jakarta, Thursday, September 15.

"It is said that in the next presidential election they will only want the two pairs of candidates for president and vice president to be what they want," said SBY.

SBY also stated that he would go down the mountain facing the 2024 election because he received information that the implementation of the five-year democratic party could be dishonest and fair.

"Cadres, why do I have to go down the mountain to face the upcoming 2024 General Election? I heard, I know, that there are signs that the 2024 election could be dishonest and unfair," said SBY.