PDI-P Grand Consolidation Will Be Attended by Ganjar Candidates for Vice President

Chairperson of the PDI-P DPP Puan Maharani revealed the possibility of a surprise at the peak event for commemorating the Bung Karno Month at GBK, Jakarta, Saturday (24/6/2023) this afternoon.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI.

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

Cakra Buana Task Force conducted a rehearsal for the peak commemoration of the Bung Karno Month at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta on Friday, June 23, 2023. The peak commemoration of the Bung Karno Month 2023 will be held on Saturday, June 24, 2023.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle or PDI-P held a grand consolidation at the height of the Bung Karno Month commemoration at Gelora Bung Karno, Jakarta, Saturday (24/6/2023) afternoon. A number of political elites who are said to be on the list of potential companion candidates for to be the presidential candidate from PDI-P, Ganjar Pranowo, are said to be attending the The consolidation was attended by thousands of cadres from a number of regions in Indonesia.

The grand consolidation will also be attended by President Joko Widodo and a number of ministers from the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet. In the event themed ”United Fist for Greater Indonesia”, General Chair of Megawati Soekarnoputri will deliver her political speech.

Hundreds of thousands of cadres from all over Indonesia have been present at GBK Stadium since morning. Almost all of them were wearing red shirts or shirts with the image of a white-tusked bull, the logo of the PDI-P party. The committee claimed that the event would be attended by more than 100,000 people, while GBK's capacity is only 78,000 people.

At exactly 09.05 WIB, one by one the PDI-P cadres who had been waiting in the GBK ring road area began to enter the GBK area. They must go through a re-examination by showing a wristband as a sign of their door zone starting from zones 1-12.

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

The Cakra Buana task force took a break during the clean-up operation for the peak commemoration of Bung Karno Month at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta on Friday, June 23, 2023.

PDI-P Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto, when met at the GBK Stadium, said that the event would be attended by PDI-P Chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri, Chair of the DPR who is also Chair of the PDI-P DPP Puan Maharani, and President Joko Widodo. The three of them will give speeches at this event.

”President Jokowi as a party cadre, right, is attached, in line with all party movements. This is an interesting series of activities to be packaged as a mirror of party consolidation," said Hasto.

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Apart from that, the ministers of the Indonesia Onward Cabinet, several high-ranking coalition parties supporting Joko Widodo's government, were also invited, especially the three political parties which had expressed their support for Ganjar Pranowo. So far, three parties have declared their support for Ganjar, namely the United Development Party (PPP), the Hanura Party, and the Perindo Party. However, Hasto said, there were indeed some party elites who were unable to attend because they were currently performing the pilgrimage.

Signal will be vice presidential candidate

Chairwoman of PDI-P Central Board Puan Maharani revealed that there may be a surprise at the peak event of the Bung Karno Month celebration. According to her, it is possible that the event will be attended by the potential vice presidential candidate who will accompany Ganjar.

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

President Joko Widodo along with the Chairwoman of PDI-P, Megawati Soekarnoputri (center), accompanied by the presidential candidate of PDI-P, Ganjar Pranowo (right), attended the opening of the PDI-P National Working Meeting III at the PDI-P Party School in Lenteng Agung, Jakarta, on Tuesday (6/6/2023).

"Later, we can see who will attend. I am not familiar with the invitations that have been sent out. It is possible that those who will attend are potential vice presidential candidates for PDI-P's presidential hopeful that I haven't mentioned yet or maybe haven't been seen before. This is where we will see new faces or familiar faces that we have carefully considered to become one of PDI-P's potential vice presidential candidates," said Puan.

Previously, after the 3rd National Working Meeting (Rakernas) of PDI-P at the Party School of the PDI-P Central Executive Board, Jakarta, on 6 June 2023, Puan had revealed several names that were on the radar as potential vice presidential running mates for Ganjar. These names ranged from members of the Indonesia Maju Cabinet, regional heads, to political party leaders.

Those names include the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD; Minister of State Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir; West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil; and Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno. Then, there is also the General Chair of the Democratic Party Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono and the General Chair of the Golkar Party Airlangga Hartarto.

Later, it can be seen who attended. I don't really remember the invitations that were sent out. It could be that some of the people who are coming later are potential vice presidential candidates from PDI-P presidential candidates that I haven't mentioned or maybe haven't been seen yet.

Hasto added, the presence of the candidate for vice presidential candidate Ganjar referred to by Puan should not only be seen as physically present, but also virtually. This is because this event will also be broadcast live via social media and mainstream media, so many will also attend online.

"So that the presence is not just seen physically, but what Mbak Puan conveyed is true that the candidate for vice president does show the same spirit as PDI-P in reviving the ideas, concepts, and thoughts of Bung Karno," said Hasto."

When asked about the absence of Sandiaga Uno and Erick Thohir, Hasto said that the two ministers had indeed been invited, but had stated that they were unable to attend. Sandiaga, for example, could not attend because he was on the pilgrimage. While Erick Thohir was also absent because he was carrying out government duties.

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI

Sandiaga Uno (left) and Erick Thohir met at the Young Important Indonesia event in Jakarta on Saturday (7/13/2019).

"Because of that, I have said, they can be present physically, but also online. So we also provide links to the highlight of the commemoration of the Bung Karno Month to all ministers from President Jokowi's cabinet. So that physical presence as well as online presence is very important," said Hasto.

Honoured

Separately, through a written statement to Kompas, Sandiaga who also serves as Chair of the PPP DPP Election Winning Body (Bapilu) admitted that he was invited to the main event of Bung Karno Month. He also admitted that he was very honored to receive the invitation.

However, the former Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta admitted that he was unable to attend. The reason is, Sandiaga and his wife, Nur Asia Uno, are currently performing the pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. "I feel very, very honored and join in praying and sending Alfatihah for our proclaimer, Ir Haji Soekarno or Bung Karno, who has given so much inspiration to the nation and state. But qadarullah, my wife and I are currently performing Hajj in the Holy Land," said Sandiaga.

The Hajj worship, he added, coincides with the peak of the commemoration of Bung Karno Month, which falls on 9 Zulhijah or June 28, 2023. Then, in accordance with its pillars, the Hajj worship will be carried out for the next four days, namely 10, 11, 12, and 13 Zulhijah.

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Therefore, Sandiaga apologizes for not being able to attend the event in person. However, he plans to attend digitally. He is currently attending a major symposium on Hajj and Umrah at the invitation of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and is also planning to perform Hajj.

KOMPAS/KRISTI D UTAMI

On Thursday (27/4/2023), the Governor of Central Java, Ganjar Pranowo, gave a statement alongside the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno, following a meeting of the Regional Financial Access Acceleration Team for Central Java in the city of Semarang.

"However, this does not diminish the respect, I will be present virtually and God willing, I can gain inspiration from the activities that will hopefully bring many blessings," said Sandiaga.

Through the pinnacle event of the Bung Karno Month, Sandiaga hopes that fellowship and unity can continue to be built. He also hopes that the spirit, ideas, concepts, and thoughts of Bung Karno can inspire the acceleration of Indonesia's future development.

Sandiaga also sees Bung Karno's Trisakti ideology, which emphasizes sovereignty in politics, independence in the economy, and personality in culture, as the cornerstone of the nation's ongoing struggle, which will continue to be realized over time despite Soekarno's passing 53 years ago.