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Sandiaga reaffirms support for Prabowo after rumor of deepening ties with PPP
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In this file photo dated Jan. 18, 2019, vice-presidential candidate Sandiaga Uno gives his running mate Prabowo Subianto a backrub during the first candidate debate. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)
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mid reports of his cozying up to the United Development Party (PPP) to further his political ambitions, Gerindra Party politician and Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno reaffirmed his relationship with Gerindra chairman Prabowo Subianto after their three-hour meeting on Tuesday.
“We discussed a lot of things, but the central message is that we have to stand united and we must not be divided," said Sandiaga at an event in Banyuwangi, East Java, on Saturday. He added that reports of a widening rift between him and Prabowo were a misunderstanding resulting from a lack of communication between the two, citing their work as tourism minister and defense minister, respectively.
Sandiaga ran alongside Prabowo as vice-presidential candidate in the 2019 presidential election, which they eventually lost to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Vice President Ma’ruf Amin. But signs of conflict between the two began to surface recently as Sandiaga appeared to harbor political ambitions of his own.
In December, Sandiaga hinted at his readiness to run in 2024, but only if a political party wanted him to. “We should give space to the parties to make their choices, but my achievements as tourism and creative economy minister speak for themselves," Sandiaga said at the time, as quoted by kompas.com.
While Sandiaga is still a member of Gerindra, political analyst Adi Prayitno believes that the party has no intention of pairing up Sandiaga with Prabowo once more. “The door for Sandiaga at Gerindra isn’t simply closed, but it’s been locked tight. [...] If Sandi [Sandiaga] wants to run [in 2024], the only way for him is to seek out other parties," Adi told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
With Gerindra having already nominated Prabowo and forming an alliance with the Muslim-based National Awakening Party (PKB), which is keen on nominating chairman Muhaimin Iskandar for the vice-presidential seat, Adi said that it was highly unlikely that Gerindra would go back on its word and support Sandiaga instead.
Instead, reports of a growing rapport between Sandiaga and PPP have intensified, with Gerindra executive board member Sufmi Dasco stoking the fires in December. “I heard from my friends in the PPP that Pak Sandi is just one step away from becoming a member of the PPP," said Dasco, as reported by kompas.com.
