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‘Jenderal Kardus’ no more? Democrats back Prabowo after all
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Gerindra Party leader Prabowo Subianto and Democratic Party leader Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono pose for the media before a meeting in this July 30 file photo. (Antara/Sigid Kurniawan)
T
he Democratic Party has decided to back Prabowo Subianto and Sandiaga Uno’s presidential bid, despite a dramatic falling out between the Democrats and Prabowo’s Gerindra Party in the last two days.
“The High Council of the Democratic Party decided in its meeting this morning to endorse the candidate pair of Prabowo Subianto and Sandiaga Uno,” High Council deputy chairman E.E. Mangindaan said on Friday.
Democrat executives had previously said the party did not support Sandiaga as Prabowo’s running mate, citing his low electability ratings in recent polls.
Democrat politician Andi Arief went so far as to accuse Sandiaga of paying off the other two parties in Gerindra’s coalition, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the National Mandate Party (PAN).
The Dems have been pushing Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, son of chairman Susilo Bambang, for the VP slot.
In a series of angry tweets he posted on Wednesday, Andi called Prabowo a jenderal kardus (cardboard general).
As of Thursday night, the party still voiced its opposition to Sandiaga’s nomination.
“We want someone with a bigger chance [of winning],” Democrat deputy secretary-general Ferdinand Hutahean said late Thursday night.
But the party made an about-face on Friday with Democrat secretary-general Hinca Panjaitan saying, “About who the vice presidential candidate is, well now it’s Pak Sandi and that is the prerogative of the presidential candidate, so we have accepted it.” (ahw)
