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Former VP Jusuf Kalla declares support for Anies
He said in his remarks that Anies had been his pupil.
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Presidential candidate Anies Baswedan (center) speaks with the media while being flanked by former vice president Jusuf Kalla (left) and member of Anies' campaign team Sudirman Said during their visit to Kalla's house on Jl. Brawijaya in South Jakarta on Oct. 7, 2023. Kalla expressed his support for Anies' candidacy on Dec. 19, 2023. (Antara/Narda Margaretha Sinambela)
Former vice president Jusuf Kalla declared his support on Tuesday for presidential candidate Anies Baswedan and his running mate Muhaimin Iskandar.
“So tonight, in Makassar, I convey my support [for Anies and Muhaimin]. Hopefully, there are benefits for all of you,” said Kalla, as quoted by Antara news agency.
Kalla made the statement during an Anies-Muhaimin campaign event at the Islamic Center IMM in Makassar.
He said in his remarks that Anies had been his pupil.
“You could say I taught Anies about politics at Paramadina University every Friday. We used to have lunch together, and I gave him advice on political issues and experience,” said Kalla. “From that, I understand that Anies is perceptive and knowledgeable in solving problems.”
Kalla, who served as vice president in the first presidential terms of both Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, said a president should be strong and insightful, particularly in economic questions.
He said the world economy had been volatile and depressed because of international conflict.
“The world will experience more challenges in the next five years,” said Kalla.
“The economy has been struggling due to wars in Gaza, Ukraine, not to mention the conflict between China and America, as well as Europe. So the world economy has decreased.”
Kalla believed Anies had the economic understanding to navigate the issues.
The former vice president’s spokesman Husain Abdullah said Kalla felt a moral responsibility to advise the public so they would not make the “wrong choice” of leader for the next five years. He added that Kalla’s support for Anies was based on his track record.
“All this time [Kalla has been] neutral, but as a citizen, [he] certainly has a political choice, and based on Anies’ track record, [he] believes Anies is the right person to lead Indonesia,” Hussain said, as quoted by cnbcndonesia.com.
