Prabowo-Sandiaga to challenge Jokowi-Ma'ruf
BINTANGNEWS.com
– The opposition camp
finally announced the pair of presidential and vice presidential candidate.
Late on Thursday (Aug 9), Gerindra Party Chief Patron Prabowo Subianto declared
himself as
presidential candidate and Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno as his running
mate.
"Leaders
of three political parties, namely Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), National
Mandate Party (PAN), and Gerindra Party have decided and trusted me and
Sandiaga Uno to advance as presidential and vice presidential candidate for the
2019-2024 term," Prabowo in a press
conference at his house at Kartanegara street, South Jakarta, on Thursday (Aug
9).
However,
Prabowo demanded Sandiaga to give up his post in Jakarta provincial government.
Sandiaga also should leave Gerindra Party to represent himself as independent
candidate.
By
doing so, Sandiaga would be more acceptable by all supporting parties. Sandiaga
now is serving as Jakarta deputy governor and deputy chief of Gerindra Party
Board of Trustees.
"To
run as presidential and vice presidential candidate, to win the election, is a
part of mandate given to both of us and it is a very big trust," Prabowo
said.
Prabowo
admitted the process to decide candidate pair in presidential election 2019 was
not easy and tiring. He built political communications with a number of
political parties, including with Democratic Party. However, Democratic Party
has not announced its decision to support either to Prabowo's camp or incumbent
President Joko Widodo's camp.
"Well,
it was not easy to build coalition because we have to reach agreement on many
things," Prabowo explained.
According
to Prabowo, coalition of Gerindra Party, PAN, and PKS has been established de
facto. It was not formed within the last two or five days ago.
He
explained the coalition was first established since Jakarta gubernatorial
election in 2017. Jointly, Gerindra, PKS and PAN have been facing various
difficult problems.
Meanwhile,
Sandiaga asked for blessing to be able to present a strong government focused
on the progress of the nation. He wanted to build a strong economy and create
more job opportunities.
Sandiaga
also hoped to food stocks price will be affordable and stable. "Insya
Allah (God willing), with a civilized government, we can accelerate the development,"
he said.
Prabowo
and Sandiaga planned to register to General Election Commission (KPU) soon
after Friday prayers at Istiqlal mosque in Central Jakarta.
PKS
Chairman Sohibul Iman, PKS Syura (Advisory) Council chairman Salim Segaf
Al-Jufri, General Chairman of PAN Zulkifli Hasan, founder and chairman of PAN
Advisory Board Amien Rais, politician and the daughter of Indonesian first
President Soekarno Rachmawati Soekarnoputri, and Member of the Board of
Trustees of Gerindra Fuad Bawazier witnessed the declaration.
However,
ustaz Abdul Somad declined the nomination. Meanwhile, PAN wished its chairman
Zulkifli Hasan to be Prabowo's running mate. After a long discussion, both
parties then agreed to give the mandate to Sandiaga.
Meanwhile,
on the same day, Democratic Party politician Andi Arief tweeted a harsh
statement on his personal Twitter account @AndiArief__. He seemed to be
disappointed to hear Sandiaga's name arose as Prabowo's presidential candidate.
"Prabowo
turned out to be cardboard, tonight we refused him to come to Kuningan. No use
to explain it even in written. Prabowo valued money more than the struggle.
General cardboard," Andi said in his Twitter account on Aug 8. He used the
term "cardboard" to describe people who valued money than struggle.
Jokowi
was supported by nine political parties, namely Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle, Nasdem Party, Golkar Party, PPP, PKB Perindo, PSI, Hanura Party, and
PKPI. Jokowi and Kiai Ma'ruf was scheduled to register to KPU on Friday (Aug
10) morning.***
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World Resources on twitter @ bintangnews.com
Editing: T.Bintang
Source: Republika.co.id
