The national campaign team spokesman for Ganjar Pranowo and Mahfud MD, Ruhut Sitompul, said the pair would provide over 17 million jobs if they won the 2024 presidential election to put themselves ahead of the competition.

The statement is a response to a previous claim by vice presidential candidate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who only suggested citizens become businesspeople when Gibran was asked about creating more job openings.

"Please underline the 'new' part when Ganjar and Mahfud said they promised 17 million new job openings,” said Ruhut on Thursday as quoted by kompas.com.

“So, it is not like when Gibran was asked about new job openings. 'Job openings? Just join me to become private [businesspeople]'."

Ruhut said Gibran's solution was unrealistic since not everyone had the same drive to become businesspersons nor the same opportunities to open private businesses.

Gibran, the oldest son of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, is known for his food and beverages businesses before finally entering politics, something he said in the past he would avoid.

Ganjar-Mahfud campaign team spokesman Patria Ginting said the promise of creating 17 million new job openings was a more apt response to the issue since Ganjar and Mahfud often received questions from high school students worried about their future work prospects.

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