Yusril Ihza Mahendra: I'm Ready To Be A Vice Presidential Candidate Since 1999

UN Chairman Yusril Ihza Mahendra (center) after the adjudication hearing, Sunday, March 4, 2018. Bawaslu decided that the PBB was valid to participate in the 2019 General Election. (Between-Akbar Nugroho Gumay)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Crescent Star Party (PBB) Yusril Ihza Mahendra said he was ready to become a candidate for vice president (cawapres) since 1999. He also admitted that he was ready if he was asked to become a vice presidential candidate for the 2024 presidential election.

"If asked to become a vice presidential candidate, I am ready since 1999," said Yusril in a discussion on Measuring the Post-MCC Decision Election in Jakarta, Tuesday, October 17, which was confiscated by Antara.

If he is promoted as a vice presidential candidate, then the General Election Commission (KPU) is appointed as a vice presidential candidate and wins as vice president, Yusril admits that he understands and knows what he should do.

Therefore, he assesses that figures who do not have experience as statesmen but are appointed as candidates for vice president will have difficulties if elected, because extra personnel is needed to adapt at least the first two years to be able to work as vice president.

"The remaining three years then they work; but there are elections, so they will focus on elections," he said.

Yusril has experience working in government, ranging from the Minister of Law and Law for the period 1999-2001, the Minister of Law and Human Rights (Menkumham) for the period 2001-2004, to as Minister of State Secretary for the period 2004-2007.

In addition, Yusril was once the author of the presidential speech, namely the 2nd President of the Republic of Indonesia Soeharto, the 3rd President of the Republic of Indonesia B. J. Habibie, and the 6th President of the Republic of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

"I am also preparing what materials will be used in cabinet meetings," he added.

Armed with his experience, Yusril said it would be nice if the next president and vice president for Indonesia were figures who had the expertise and ability to lead. So, when inaugurated, they immediately know what to do.

"This is in the interests of the nation and state, so that the best people who can run in the presidential election (2024)," he said.

He gave an example of a career as the head of the National Police (Kapolri) that must have a number of conditions, starting from having to occupy a position as a high-ranking official at the National Police Headquarters to being the head of the regional police (kapolda).

"This indicates that there are special things that must be fulfilled so that those who occupy the position of Chief of Police are truly compatible," he said.

Yusril Ihza Mahendra's name is suspected to be included in the names of the prospective vice presidential candidates for Prabowo Subianto. The UN, a political party led by Yusril, is included in the list of members of the Advanced Indonesia Coalition (KIM) who brought Prabowo Subianto as a candidate for the 2024 General Election.

Prabowo is considering four names for the vice presidential candidate, each of whom comes from West Java, East Java, Central Java, and outside Java.

Paramadina University political communication expert Hendri Satrio, in a similar event, assessed that Yusril was a candidate for vice presidential candidate that Prabowo considered from outside Java.

"For figures from outside Java, there is Yusril Ihza Mahendra. Erick (Thohir) was born in Jakarta, not outside Java," said Hendri.

As regulated in Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning Elections, pairs of presidential and vice-presidential candidates are proposed by political parties or coalitions of election participants who meet the requirements for obtaining seats of at least 20 percent of the total number of seats in the DPR or obtaining 25 percent of valid votes nationally in the previous election for members of the DPR.

Currently, there are 575 seats in parliament so that pairs of presidential and vice-presidential candidates in the 2024 presidential election must have at least 115 seats in the DPR RI. In addition, candidate pairs can also be promoted by political parties or a combination of political parties participating in the 2019 Election with a total valid votes of at least 34,992,703 votes.

The KPU began to open registration for candidates for the 2024 presidential election on 19-25 October 2023 at the KPU Office, Jakarta.