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PDI-P likes its chances against Prabowo’s new alliance
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An official from the General Elections Commission (KPU) introduces five different ballots for the 2019 general election at the KPU building in Central Jakarta in 2018. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)
Facing a newly formed alliance of four pro-government parties supporting Gerindra Party patron Prabowo Subianto for the presidency, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), which is backing Ganjar Pranowo for the position, has said it remains confident it will win the 2024 election.
On Sunday, Golkar Party chair Airlangga Hartarto and National Mandate Party (PAN) chair Zulkifli Hasan announced that their parties had entered into an alliance with Gerindra and the National Awakening Party (PKB) to back Prabowo in the February 2024 presidential election. The four-way alliance controls more than 46 percent of the seats in the House of Representatives.
The PDI-P’s alliance, meanwhile, consisting of the United Development Party (PPP) and two parties not represented in the legislature, Hanura and Perindo, currently controls around 25 percent of House seats.
Senior PDI-P member Said Abdullah said the party was still confident that it could win the presidency for a third consecutive time in 2024.
Citing President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s victory in the 2014 presidential election, Said Abdullah claimed the PDI-P had a track record of winning against bigger opponents.
“According to our political beliefs, with smart work and empathy for the grassroots community, we are confident we can get more support [than Prabowo] in the 2024 election,” he told The Jakarta Post on Monday.
Said Abdullah also said the PDI-P’s confidence was bolstered by the parties that made up its alliance, as it could rely on the PPP to attract Muslim voters, Hanura to win over voters outside of Java and Perindo – led by media mogul Hary Tanoesoedibjo – for media exposure.
