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SBY to focus on Democrats' legislative campaign
The former president has called on his party's legislative candidates to engage with voters to come up with policies that addressed their concerns and aspirations, while confirming that his son, Democratic chairman Agus, would be supporting the Prabowo campaign.
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Former president and Democratic Party founder Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (left) greets Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto during his party’s leadership meeting in Jakarta on Sept. 21, 2023, when the Democrats declared their support for Prabowo's 2024 election bid. (Antara/Galih Pradipta)
Former president and Democratic Party founder Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) announced on Wednesday that he would focus on ensuring his party’s victory in the 2024 legislative election, with his son and party chair Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono leading the Democrats’ efforts in the presidential election.
“In fact, it’s already happening. At present, Democratic Party chairman Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono is the one accompanying Prabowo Subianto” on the campaign trail, Susilo said after a meeting with Democrats in Baturraden, Central Java, as quoted by Kompas, adding that the Gerinda Party’s presidential candidate had “asked the Democratic Party chairman to accompany him on many campaign stages”.
He was responding to reporters’ questions about his commitment to helping the Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka candidate pair win next year’s election.
The Democrats had previously thrown their support behind Anies Baswedan in the hope that the presidential candidate would make good on his hinted preference for Agus as his running mate. But Anies eventually bowed to the wishes of the NasDem Party, the biggest political party in the Coalition of Change for Unity (KPP) backing his nomination, and selected Muhaimin Iskandar as his running mate.
The surprise announcement on Sept. 2 about Anies’ choosing Muhaimin, who chairs KPP member National Awakening Party (PKB), prompted the Democrats to withdraw from the KPP on the same date and later join the Gerindra-led Indonesia Onward Coalition (KIM) backing Prabowo.
The Democrats also supported Prabowo in the 2019 race, although some party members backed Jokowi’s reelection bid.
While Susilo champions a realpolitik platform, he also emphasized the importance of making a genuine connection with voters, and called on the Democrats’ legislative candidates to avoid empty promises and instead engage in meaningful conversations about the people’s concerns and aspirations.
To gain firsthand knowledge of these needs, Susilo has spent the past three weeks touring across Java from west to east. This hands-on approach aims to ensure that the Democrats’ campaign promises are rooted in the actual needs of Indonesian voters.
“They recall our time in government, particularly initiatives like BPJS Kesehatan [Health Care and Social Security Agency], the KUR [microcredit program] and education programs like the BOS [school operational assistance] and the Bidik Misi scholarship program,” he said, referring to programs launched during his two terms from 2004 to 2014.
Susilo stressed that popular policies such as these were central to the Democratic Party’s vision for the future.
“Even though I will be focusing on the legislative election, I will also play a role in the presidential election,” he said.
Although he did not reveal any details about his potential role related to Prabowo's presidential campaign, Susilo said he had conveyed a message to the Gerindra candidate: "Pak [Mr] Prabowo has a chance to win in one round. [...] But politics is not math. Many things are unpredictable.
“I said to Pak Prabowo, despite his good standing [in the opinion polls], don't stop working hard and praying. Anything can happen in an election."
