Prabowo conveyed messages about the need to maintain party solidity. He warned that there should be no enemies under the blanket, no stabbing in the back of comrades and that no one should “cut one on the fold.”
By
REBIYYAH SALASAH
·4 minutes read
ADRYAN YOGA PARAMADWYA
General Chairperson of the Gerindra Party Prabowo Subianto delivers a speech at the Gerindra Party DPP office, Jakarta, Monday (6/2/2023). The Gerindra Party celebrates its 15th birthday by gathering cadres across Indonesia offline and online.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — During the 15th anniversary celebrations, the Gerindra Party tried to drum up internal solidity among the party's cadres, which party’s chairman Prabowo Subianto said was key to winning the 2024 elections.
The anniversary commemoration was held at the Gerindra central board office in Jakarta on Monday (6/2/2023). Attending the event were Gerindra’s elite members, including the Gerindra advisory board deputy chairman Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno. Many have alleged Sandiaga's relationship with Prabowo and Gerindra to be straining on speculations that Sandiaga has intentions to run for the 2024 elections as a presidential candidate. There is also speculation that he might move to the United Development Party (PPP).
During the anniversary celebrations, which were watched online by regional board members, Prabowo and Sandiaga showed an amiable relationship since arriving at the event. Opening his speech, Prabowo, who is defense minister, acknowledged Sandiaga along with several other parties’ board members. Being acknowledged, Sandiaga, who is the tourism and creative economy minister, stood up and saluted Prabowo. The former joined the latter at the podium for a rice cone cutting ceremony.
In his speech, Prabowo conveyed messages about the need to maintain party solidity. He warned that there should be no enemies under the blanket, no stabbing in the back of comrades and that no one should “cut one on the fold.”
”Our ancestors used to caution [us] against such an attitude. Gerindra can't [tolerate it]," he said.
He appealed to his cadres to conduct civilized and honorable, not treacherous, politics and encouraged them to show an exemplary model in politics.
Potential winner
In a recorded video shown at the gathering, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo congratulated Gerindra on its 15th anniversary. The President appreciated the party’s contribution to his administration. “By working hard and continuing to lift up [the performance], the Gerindra Party has the potential to be at the top. Pak Prabowo's electability also has the potential to be the highest," the President said.
In his speech, Prabowo praised Jokowi's leadership and felt honored at his invitation for Gerindra to join the Indonesia Onward Cabinet, following their tight rivalry in the 2019 presidential election. "Jokowi has a big heart to have invited me," he said.
ADRYAN YOGA PARAMADWYA
Gerindra Party Chairperson Prabowo Subianto (center) accompanied by Deputy Chairperson of the Advisory Board Sandiaga Uno (left) and Deputy General Chair Sufmi Dasco Ahmad (right) walk onto the stage for the 15th Anniversary of the Gerindra Party in Jakarta, Monday (6/2/ 2023).
He also pointed to the Covid-19 pandemic mitigation as a show of Jokowi's leadership credentials, saying that the President had demonstrated his mettle to decide not to implement a lockdown despite pressures from world institutions and neighboring countries. The decision was said to have been appropriate considering that a lockdown would have caused low socio-economic communities to suffer further.
"I'm not fawning. Not at all. I simply am telling the truth," Prabowo said.
He emphasized Gerindra’s commitment to continue what had been delivered by the Jokowi administration.
Regarding the 2024 presidential election, Prabowo only alluded to it at the end of his speech. That was when someone shouted to invoke what Prabowo had in store for the vice presidential candidacy. "[To decide on a candidate of] vice president is still a long time away. Neither you nor I know who the vice president [candidate] is," he said.
Regarding the President's statement on Prabowo's electability, Gerindra Secretary-General Ahmad Muzani hoped that it was a signal of Jokowi's support for Prabowo. "We see Pak Jokowi's support for Pak Prabowo is important for us to fight," he said.
As for Prabowo's vice presidential candidate, he said it would be discussed with the National Awakening Party (PKB) chairman Muhaimin Iskandar. Gerindra and PKB have agreed to the coalition.
Indonesian Political Parameters Executive Director Adi Prayitno said it would not be an easy task for Gerindra to realize its target of winning the 2024 elections.
Referring to surveys by several polling institutions, Gerindra's electability is still below that of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P). Prabowo's electability as a presidential candidate is also still below Ganjar Pranowo, a PDI-P cadre who is the Central Java Governor. In fact, on several surveys, Prabowo's electability is overtaken by Anies Baswedan, who is the NasDem Party's presidential candidate.
Facing uphill challenges, Gerindra sees internal solidity as one of the keys to driving it forward. (Z06/Z15)
