Democrats Accusing Anies' Vice Presidential Candidate Was Tough As A Result Of NasDem Rejecting AHY, Surya Paloh: It Can't Be Like That

Head of NasDem Surya Paloh (ANTARA)

Chairman of the NasDem Party, Surya Paloh, has denied the accusation by the Democratic Party about the tough determination of the candidate for vice president (cawapres) who will accompany Anies Baswedan. Democrats said that the completion of Anies' vice presidential decision was due to NasDem's rejection of Democratic Chairman Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) to become Anies' partner in the nomination of their coalition presidential and vice presidential candidates. This was conveyed by Paloh after meeting with Anies and the 8th team of the Change Coalition for Unity (KPP) at Grand Hyatt, Central Jakarta, Thursday, August 24 evening. "It's not that, definitely not. I, it's impossible, how did I have such thoughts," said Paloh. Paloh claims that until now the coalition relationship between NasDem, Democrats, and PKS is still maintained. The coalition, he continued, agreed to leave the vice presidential decision in the hands of Anies. Paloh asked all parties to give time to the former Governor of DKI Jakarta to determine who the companion will take part in the 2024 presidential election contest with him. "Bung Anies has been officially nominated, declared. A decision was taken together to give Bung Anies the trust to decide, time, timing is right, while looking around," explained Paloh. "There is nothing wrong with Bung Anies too thinking about it, giving opportunities to other friends to first presidentialize the vice president. It could be," he continued. Previously, Member of the High Council of the Democratic Party, Syarief Hasan, revealed that the reason KPP had not declared a pair of presidential and vice-presidential candidates was because of the NasDem Party's attitude. The NasDem Party, according to him, still objected to the name of the vice presidential candidate chosen by Anies. "I think so, I estimate that (NasDem objected to Anies' choice of vice president name)," said Syarief at Taman Ismail Marzuki, Cikini, Central Jakarta, Thursday, August 24. Because they still object to the name of the vice president, the Democrat Party suspects that the NasDem Party will deliberately spend the time of declaration until the last minute before registering with the General Election Commission (KPU) RI.

"Whether the coalition is under pressure or getting what it's like a signal that you shouldn't couple with anyone. Well, that's what makes NasDem not agree to the declatation, even saying it's delaying until the last minute, now that's it," he said. When asked whether the cause of the objection from the NasDem Party was because the name of the General Chairperson of the Democratic Party Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) who was in Anies' pocket to accompany him in the 2024 presidential election, Syarief firmly confirmed it. "Yes, yes, yes (NasDem objected to AHY so read Vice President Anies)," added Syarief.