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Jokowi makes last ditch attempt to salvage ‘grand alliance’
Jokowi on Tuesday hosted a halal-bihalal for leaders of the ruling coalition to discuss plans to back election frontrunners Ganjar Pranowo and Prabowo Subianto as the winning ticket, a close ally of the President said.
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President Joko “Jokowi“ Widodo (third right), accompanied by National Mandate Party (PAN) chairman Zulkifli Hasan (second right), Golkar Party chairman Airlangga Hartarto (third left), Gerindra chairman Prabowo Subianto (second left), National Awakening Party (PKB) chairman Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar (left) and United Development Party (PPP) acting chairman M. Mardiono (right), gives a press statement after attending a Ramadan gathering at the PAN central executive board office in Jakarta on April 2. (Antara/Aprillio Akbar)
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is making a last-ditch effort to put together a united front to nip opposition figurehead and presidential hopeful Anies Baswedan’s chances in the bud and conclude the 2024 election in a single round, just as coalition parties hit a wall in deciding the best candidate pairing to win the race.
Jokowi on Tuesday hosted a halal-bihalal (post-Ramadhan gathering) for leaders of major pro-government parties, in which they discussed plans to stitch together a “grand alliance” to back election frontrunners Ganjar Pranowo and Prabowo Subianto as a pair, according to a close ally of the President.
The guest list for Tuesday’s event included Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto, Golkar Party chairman Airlangga Hartarto, National Awakening Party (PKB) chairman Muhaimin Iskandar, United Development Party (PPP) acting chairman M. Mardiono and National Mandate Party (PAN) chairman Zulkifli Hasan.
NasDem Party chief Surya Paloh, who has forged an electoral alliance with the opposition Democratic Party and Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) to back Anies, was conspicuously absent during the event. Several party members confirmed on Tuesday that Surya was still in Singapore and was not invited to the event.
“The meeting is intended to realize the proposed ‘grand alliance’ with the formation of Ganjar-Prabowo being the presidential and vice-presidential candidates,” senior PPP politician Muhammad “Romy” Romahurmuziy said in a statement.
This arrangement, he said, was based on the fact both Ganjar and Prabowo had topped public opinion polls and that the slot for the presidency was more suited to the winner of the 2019 legislative elections, while the runner-up party should fill the vice-presidential slot.
“Of course, this will be up to Prabowo, whether he is willing to become the vice-presidential candidate despite a party mandate for him to run for president,” said Romy.
