Anies-Andika Perkasa Support Appears, Democrats Still Offer AHY Vice Presidential Candidate For NasDem-Democrat-PKS Axis

DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan and Democratic Chairman Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) at DKI City Hall, Thursday 6 May 2021. (ANTARA-M Risyal H)

JAKARTA - The NasDem Party officially announced Anies Baswedan as a presidential candidate for 2024. After the declaration, volunteers appeared to support Anies, paired with General Andika Perkasa, who is now the TNI Commander.

In response, the Democratic Party, which plans to form a coalition with NasDem and PKS, still offered to let its general chairman, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono alias AHY, become the vice presidential candidate to accompany Anies.

"Efforts are being made (AHY cawapres, ed)," said Deputy for Bappilu DPP for the Democratic Party Kamhar Lakumani to VOI, Wednesday, October 5.

Kamhar admitted that the Democrat Party did not question NasDem carrying Anies as a presidential candidate if his party later formed a coalition with NasDem and PKS.

As long as, he said, AHY was the sole option for Anies' companion. According to Kamhar, Anies-AHY became a couple that the public wanted with a high level of electability.

"(Anies)'s determination is in line with the aspirations of all Democrat Party cadres and most of the community as reflected in the results of various survey institutions. Where to place the Anies-AHY pair which is the most desired by the public with the highest electability," Kamhar explained.

Kamhar also assessed that Anies-AHY is also known as an intelligent figure and has adequate leadership qualities. Both, said Kamhar, have the right chemistry.

"Anies-AHY can become a dual that complements and fulfills each other. They are both figures who are the most suitable to represent the aspirations of the majority of the people for improvement and change towards a more advanced, democratic, just and prosperous Indonesia," said Kamhar.

Previously, the Anies-Andika For 2024 volunteer aka AK 24 appeared after Anies' name was declared a presidential candidate for the NasDem Party. AK24 sees Anies as fitting in a duet with Andika because he has excelled in various electability surveys for the 2024 presidential candidates.

Anies was never separated from the top three, while Andika Perkasa was also mentioned as a potential figure. Both of them also immediately stepped down from their current positions due to retirement.

"Anies Baswedan and Andika Perkasa are the most complete combination of characters to be able to bring Indonesia to the fore in the world," said Head of Volunteer AK 24, Bima, in a written statement, Monday, October 3.