Talks About Presidential Candidate at KIB Still Tough

The United Indonesia Coalition (KIB) has yet to find common ground regarding the presidential and vice presidential candidates who will be nominated in the 2024 presidential election.

FAKHRI FADLURROHMAN

PAN chairman Zulkifli Hasan, Golkar Party chairman Airlangga Hartarto, and PPP general chairman Muhammad Mardiono (from left to right) shaking hands after giving statements to journalists at Airlangga's official residence, Jalan Widya Chandra III, Jakarta, Thursday (27/4/2023).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The chairmen of three political parties in the United Indonesia Coalition (KIB) met together, but have yet to find common ground. They discussed the presidential and vice-presidential candidates to be nominated in the 2024 presidential election. Negotiations within the KIB were allegedly tough because each party has its own candidate to run in the 2024 presidential election.

KIB still needs a follow-up meeting to come up with a decision. At the same time, KIB continues to strive to form a grand coalition.

Three chairmen of political parties (parpol) in KIB met at the residence of Golkar Party chairman Airlangga Hartarto, in Jakarta, on Thursday evening (27/4/2023). The other two general chairmen of political parties are the chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) Zulkifli Hasan and acting chairperson of the United Development Party (PPP) Mardiono. The meeting that took place behind closed doors lasted about 1.5 hours.

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The meeting was held a day after PPP decided to support the PDI-P presidential candidate, Ganjar Pranowo. As for Golkar, the party has nominated Airlangga as a presidential candidate since the 2019 Golkar National Conference. Meanwhile, PAN has yet to make a decision.

After the meeting, Airlangga emphasized KIB was still solid. The coalition respects the internal mechanisms of each party, including PPP decisions. Differences in the aspirations of the parties in KIB regarding the choice in presidential and vice-presidential candidates to promote will be discussed together. “Everything is still open. The options are still open," said Airlangga.

Mardiono stressed KIB had not disbanded. "When each party brings the same [ideas and decisions to the table], yes, that is what we want in the coalition. However, if we are different, yes, we still need to debate, negotiate so that we have the same views, ideas and goals," he said.

Everything is still open. The options are still open.

On that occasion, Zulkifli revealed discussions on the formation of a grand coalition or national coalition would continue. In this regard, they are still awaiting an invitation to a meeting from President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. The idea of a grand coalition first emerged during a meeting between the President and the chairpersons of five political parties (Golkar, Gerindra, PAN, PPP, and PKB) at the PAN headquarters last April.

On Wednesday (26/4), Golkar spokesperson Tantowi Yahya said his party was still fighting for Airlangga as a presidential candidate. The decision to nominate Airlangga was the decision of the highest meeting at Golkar, namely the 2019 Golkar National Conference, so it must be fought for.

RENY SRI AYU ARMAN

Three party leaders, Golkar Party Chairperson Airlangga Hartarto, PAN General Chair Zulkifli Hasan, and PPP Chair Mardiono took a group photo after the National Gathering of the United Indonesia Coalition in Makassar, Sunday (6/11/2022).

Vice presidential factor

For PAN, according to PAN secretary-general Eddy Soeparno, when contacted on Thursday, the party’s support in the 2024 presidential election will depend on the vice-presidential and presidential candidate pairing. The party’s vice-presidential candidate is State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir.

"PAN is very close to Erick Thohir. We would be very enthusiastic if one of the presidential candidates being nominated took Pak Erick Thohir [as the running mate]. It would make PAN members more enthusiastic," he said.

Even though Erick is close to PAN, Eddy admits Erick had not yet decided whether to join PAN. "However, when Erick Thohir received the nomination as a candidate for vice president by one of the presidential nominees, I think PAN did not hesitate to ask him to immediately declare himself a PAN member," he said.

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Chairman of the PPP Advisory Council Romahurmuziy said the PPP National Leadership Meeting (Rapimnas) had not only decided to support Ganjar, but also ordered the PPP executive board to fight for a slot for PPP member to be the vice-presidential candidate that will run with Ganjar.

Political observer from Esa Unggul University, M Jamiluddin Ritonga, indicated the negotiations were tough during the meeting of the three-party chairmen at KIB. Each of them is fighting for their interests, especially so the figure they nominated can advance in the presidential election. If the negotiations never reach common ground, it is possible the KIB will disband and a new coalition map will be formed.

According to him, the presidential candidate from Gerindra, Prabowo Subianto, will determine the continuity of KIB. If Prabowo wants to make Airlangga his running mate, Golkar can join the Great Indonesia Awakening Coalition (KKIR) with Gerindra and the National Awakening Party (PKB). "However, if Prabowo does not give him the position of vice-presidential candidate, there is a chance Golkar will join the PDI-P," he said.

PKB chairman Daniel Johan said Gerindra and PKB's communication with Golkar was very intense. In his opinion, Golkar has shown its seriousness about joining. So, it is very possible Golkar will leave KIB and join KKIR.

If Prabowo does not give him the position of vice-presidential candidate, there is a chance Golkar will join the PDI-P.

Regarding the presidential and vice-presidential candidates being promoted by KKIR, Gerindra Party deputy chairperson Habiburokhman said, the decision would be taken by Gerindra general chairman Prabowo Subianto and PKB general chairman Muhaimin Iskandar.

In addition to KKIR, the Coalition of Change for Unity (KPP), which nominated Anies Baswedan as a presidential candidate, claims to remain solid. Nasdem chairman Willy Aditya said Anies was still preparing himself as a presidential candidate even though it was done in silence. So did the KPP.

In the search for a candidate for vice president, the small team continues to solicit public input. He did not deny the news there were political parties that would approach the KPP. However, he still kept it a secret.

KOMPAS/KRISTI D UTAMI

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno (left) and Governor of Central Java, Ganjar Pranowo (right) in Semarang, Thursday (27/4/2023). Both received questions regarding the suitability of the two running for president and vice president. Ganjar called them suitable. As for Sandiaga, he did not comment.

Ganjar-Sandiaga

Amid escalating political dynamics after Ganjar's nomination, Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno met President Jokowi on Thursday. Sandiaga, who reportedly will be joining PPP and becoming Ganjar’s running mate, was scheduled to meet the President at 3:30 p.m. and was seen leaving the Palace at around 5:00 p.m.

Sandiaga said the meeting with the President tabled tourism during the 2023 Idul Fitri holiday. There was also political talk, but it was kept a secret. Sandiaga, who had just resigned from Gerindra, only smiled when asked whether he would join PPP.

Asked about the possibility of becoming Ganjar’s running mate, Sandi again asked all parties to be patient. Prior to his meeting with the President, Sandiaga met Ganjar at a meeting of the Central Java Regional Financial Access Acceleration Team in Semarang, Central Java.

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After the meeting, Ganjar was asked his thoughts on Sandiaga possibly being nominated as his running mate. “We always match. When discussing villages, we discuss together; when discussing travel, we discuss together. It’s a code that we have to go on a picnic [together],” said Ganjar.

PDI-P secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto said Ganjar’s running mate would only be discussed in mid-May or after the registration of prospective legislative candidates has been completed. Ganjar's running mate must have compatibility with Ganjar's leadership style, have the same vision and mission, complement each other and be able to continue President Jokowi’s administration’s programs.

We always match. When discussing villages, we discuss together; when discussing travel, we discuss together.

Meanwhile, President Jokowi, accompanied by First Lady Iriana, visited the fifth president of the Republic of Indonesia, Megawati Soekarnoputri, who is also the general chairperson of PDI-P, in Jakarta.

According to Hasto, the discussion was also influenced by the dynamics of national politics that took place after the PDI-P's decision to appoint Ganjar as a presidential candidate. "Amid the Idul Fitri atmosphere, the two leaders were in a friendly environment, and also talked about the political dynamics after the nomination of the presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo. Everyone was happy," said Hasto. (NAD/WKM/INA/NIA/Z05/Z11)

This article was translated by Kurnia Siswo.