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PKB claims alliance with noncommittal Gerindra
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Members of Nahdlatul Ulama join a declaration event supporting National Awakening Party (PKB) chairman Muhaimin Iskandar as vice-presidential candidate for the 2019 presidential elections in Bahrul Hidayah Islamic boarding school in Banyuwangi, East Java on Feb, 17, 2018. (Antara/Budi Candra Setya)
T
he National Awakening Party (PKB) appears to be confident of forming an electoral coalition with the Gerindra Party for the 2024 general election, but the latter seems to be hanging back and analysts also remain unconvinced about the likelihood of the two parties teaming up.
The PKB recently claimed that it had formed an alliance with the third-largest party and nominated its leader Muhaimin Iskandar and Prabowo Subianto as vice-presidential and presidential candidates, respectively, for the 2024 race. This came after Muhaimin visited Prabowo at his residence in South Jakarta on Saturday.
PKB deputy secretary-general Jazilul Fawaid said that the two parties would soon declare the new coalition – to be named the Great Indonesia Awakening Coalition – as well as their candidate for president.
"We are looking for a good day to officially declare the Prabowo-Muhaimin pairing," Jazilul said on Sunday as quoted by tempo.co.
He said Muhaimin would run as Prabowo's running mate – despite the PKB previously stating that it would support Muhaimin as a presidential candidate, without revealing who would be on his ticket.
Gerindra central executive board head Sufmi Dasco Ahmad told the press on Tuesday that Gerindra has agreed to “cooperate” with the PKB for the next general election, while “also remaining open to welcoming other parties to form any coalition for the presidential and legislative elections and regional elections in 2024.”
But he stopped short of confirming or denying an alliance with the PKB outright.
