T

he Democratic Party has confirmed that one of its members, Andi Arief, who recently set off a political ruckus, would stay with the party and support presidential hopeful Prabowo Subianto and running mate Sandiaga Uno.

Andi previously accused the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the National Mandate Party (PAN) of accepting Rp 500 billion (US$34,225) as a “political payment” from Sandiaga in exchange for his endorsement.

Both parties denied the accusation and the PKS even planned to sue Andi for defamation.

Democratic Party senior politician Ferdinand Hutahaean said on Tuesday that the problem would be addressed through the party’s “internal mechanism”.

“Andi Arief said he would support presidential candidate pair Prabowo and Sandiaga,” Ferdinand said on Tuesday as quoted by tempo.co. He added that the party would also communicate with PAN and PKS executives to resolve the issue.

The Democratic Party decided in the 11th hour to join the Gerindra Party-led coalition including PAN and the PKS, and to endorse the Prabowo-Sandiaga pair after failing to get the vice-presidential nomination for its senior member, Agus Harimurti, the son of Democratic Party chief patron Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Ferdinand emphasized that only Yudhoyono or secretary-general Hinca Panjaitan — following approval from Yudhoyono — could be referred to for the party’s official stance and statements.