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PSI won't join Golkar in Banten gubernatorial election, Kaesang says
Kaesang’s declaration marked a divide between KIM members in the regional elections despite their intention to advance partnership for the elections.
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Golkar chairman Airlangga Hartarto (left) talks on July 11, 2024, with Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) chairman Kaesang Pangarep at the Golkar headquarters in Jakarta. During the meeting, they discussed the potential for collaboration in the upcoming regional elections.
(Antara/Reno Esnir)
K
aesang Pangarep, chairman of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), suggested that his party would not be joining the Golkar-led coalition in the Banten gubernatorial election to support frontrunner Airin Rachmi Diany.
The PSI’s stance was conveyed during Kaesang’s visit on Thursday to Golkar headquarters, where they held a closed-door meeting to discuss the possibility of cooperating in the November regional elections.
"In Banten, Insya Allah [God willing], we, the PSI, are ready [to compete] even if we have to face Golkar. Winning will be extraordinary, losing will be impossible," the youngest son of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said, as quoted by Kompas.
The PSI had previously hinted its support for the gubernatorial bid of Gerindra politician Andra Soni and his running mate Achmad Dimyati Natakusumah, a member of the House of Representatives from rival Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).
The Andra-Achmad pair has the backing of another Onward Indonesia Coalition (KIM) member, namely the National Mandate Party (PAN) alongside other parties outside the coalition, such as NasDem, the National Development Party (PPP) and the National Awakening Party (PKB). KIM is the electoral alliance behind president-elect Prabowo Subianto.
Read also: Jokowi gives nod to Kaesang's possible run in governor race
Kaesang’s declaration marked a divide between KIM members in the regional elections despite their intention to advance partnership for the elections.
On the other hand, Golkar is now exploring an alliance with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), which is not a KIM member, to pass the necessary threshold of 20 percent of seats on the local legislative council, as stipulated in the law, to nominate Airin as a gubernatorial candidate for the Banten race.
In his remark on Thursday, Kaesang acknowledged that competition between parties in the coalition for regional elections is inevitable.
“We always prioritize the effort to continue our pact with KIM. But [the reality is] there will always be competition between parties and I think that’s not a problem," Kaesang said.
In a similar tone, Golkar chairman Airlangga Hartarto dismissed concerns about KIM members opposing each other in the regional elections, stressing that any competition between them would be friendly.
"If we can't be together, that means we have to compete. But it would be a friendly competition between KIM members," Airlangga said. (yer)
