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Gerindra, Prabowo’s supporters harp on support from Jokowi to deflate Ganjar’s base
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Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto looks on as President Joko “Jokowi“ Widodo delivers a press statement during a visit to South Kalimantan on March 16, 2023. (The Jakarta Post/Presidential Palace)
Go:p>Gerindra Party's harping on ties between party chair Prabowo Subianto and President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is a tactic to deflate challenger Ganjar Pranowo’s voter base, analysts say.
Roadside posters featuring Prabowo and Jokowi with the slogan “win together for a great Indonesia" have popped up in recent weeks on some streets in Pati, Brebes and Surakarta in Central Java, the long-time stronghold of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and party member Jokowi.
Gerindra’s Pati office chairman Hardi has claimed that the billboard installation was under the instruction of his superior at the party’s Central Java office, which the latter denied, with secretary Sriyanto Saputro claiming it was Pati office’s initiative, according to reports by Detik.com.
The billboards came on the heel of speculations that President Jokowi was hesitant to throw his full support behind Ganjar after he felt blindsided when the governor signed a “political contract” with Megawati to allow her to decide his running mate and the composition of his Cabinet without consulting with the President, allegations that both the PDI-P and Ganjar have denied.
Despite having attended numerous rallies for Ganjar, Jokowi, whom the PDI-P have often regarded as a “mere party officer”, has recently intensified his meetings with Prabowo, who holds control over his own party Gerindra. Jokowi and Prabowo met at least three times last month at the invitation of the former, including at a Sunday lunch at Bogor Palace, prompting analysts to speculate that the President was politically leaning toward his former rival in the 2019 presidential election.
Gerindra deputy chairman Habiburokhman has openly described Jokowi’s gesture as a “show of support” for Prabowo, claiming that Jokowi’s past remarks that his successor would have to be courageous and not be influenced by the elite were meant for Prabowo.
