Ganjar and Prabowo Embrace, Commit to Healthy Competition

Anies Baswedan, Prabowo Subianto, and Ganjar Pranowo were present at the Learning 2023 discussion at Posbloc, Central Jakarta.

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

KOMPAS/FAKHRI FADLURROHMAN

Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto (left) and Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo hug during the Learning 2023 event at Pos Bloc, Jakarta, on Saturday (29/7/2023).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — In the middle of the education discussion held by the All Students, All Teachers movement, two presidential candidates who will contest the 2024 Presidential Election embrace each other. The two agreed that, even though they differ in politics, the spirit of kinship and brotherhood must be maintained.

Three prospective presidential candidates (capres) who will advance in the 2024 Presidential Election (Pilpres) were present at the Learning 2023 discussion at Posbloc, Central Jakarta, Saturday (29/7/2023). They are the former Governor of DKI Jakarta who is also the future presidential candidate from the Coalition for Change for Unity (KPP), Anies Baswedan; The general chairman of the Gerindra Party who is also the presidential candidate from Gerindra, Prabowo Subianto; as well as the Governor of Central Java who is also the presidential candidate from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Ganjar Pranowo.

All three of them served as speakers in three different discussion themes. Anies spoke at a discussion with the theme "Move On? Legacy and Sustainability in the World of Education" which started at 09.00 and ended at 10.00. Then, at 15.25, Prabowo spoke at a discussion with the theme "Learning doesn't have to be from school". Prabowo's discussion ended at 16.05. However, at the end of the discussion, Ganjar suddenly arrived to speak at the next discussion with the theme "Everyone has a Real Role for Education in Indonesia". Ganjar's discussion will only begin at 16.10.

KOMPAS/FAKHRI FADLURROHMAN

Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo sat next to Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Nadiem Makarim at the Belajaraya 2023 event in Pos Bloc Jakarta on Saturday (29/7/2023).

Upon the arrival of Ganjar, the host who is also the initiator of the Semua Murid, Semua Guru (All Students, All Teachers) movement, Najelaa Shihab, greeted him. Prabowo, who was still on stage, also smiled at Ganjar.

Ganjar then sat in the front row with the Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Nadiem Makarim and listened to the discussion led by Prabowo until it was finished. Shortly after the discussion was closed, Prabowo came down from the stage and approached Ganjar. They then shook hands and hugged.

At that time, Prabowo wore a blue checkered shirt, while Ganjar wore a red checkered shirt. In front of the audience of the discussion, both of them raised their thumbs up.

KOMPAS/FAKHRI FADLURROHMAN

Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto participated in a Public Talk session at the Belajaraya 2023 event at Pos Bloc, Jakarta on Saturday, July 29, 2023.

In a press conference, Prabowo said he was on good terms with Ganjar. He also emphasized that he would compete healthily in the upcoming 2024 Presidential Election. According to him, this spirit is important to show that politics in Indonesia must prioritize family and brotherhood politics.

"We compete healthily, we compete with spirit, we compete with a sense of family, brotherhood, that politics in Indonesia must be a politics of family, politics among siblings," said Prabowo.

He admitted that he had no intention of wearing the same clothing as Ganjar during this education discussion. "Yes, it just happened that we wore the same clothing. There was no coordination," he said.

KOMPAS/FAKHRI FADLURROHMAN

Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo attended a Public Chat session at the Belajaraya 2023 event in Pos Bloc, Jakarta, on Saturday (29/7/2023).

Ganjar also expressed the same sentiment. He said, his relationship with Prabowo is very good. Moreover, they often meet. "Yes, we have to be good with anyone, especially with Mr. Prabowo who I often meet," he said.

Also read: Three Candidates for Presidential Candidates Compete at the Apeksi National Working Meeting

Not only with Prabowo, Ganjar admitted that he also has a good relationship with Anies Baswedan. "Yesterday, I also had a good relationship with Mas Anies during the hajj worship. So, everything is good," he said.

On June 26, 2023, Ganjar met Anies at the Royal Guest Banquet Hall at Mina Palace. This meeting was revealed from a photo sent by the Minister of National Development Planning/Head of the National Development Planning Agency, Suharso Monoarfa.

DOKUMENTASI MENTERI PPN/KEPALA BAPPENAS SUHARSO MONOARFA

Potential presidential candidate from PDI-P, Ganjar Pranowo (seated, left), National Development Planning Minister/Head of Bappenas, Suharso Monoarfa (standing), and potential presidential candidate from the Coalition for Unity Anies Baswedan (standing) met in Mina, Saudi Arabia on Monday (26/6/2023) local time.

Ganjar agrees with Prabowo that contestants in the 2024 Presidential Election must compete healthily. Moreover, he was once a campaign team member for Megawati Soekarnoputri and Prabowo in the 2009 election. Therefore, there should be no campaigns that involve political identity, hate speech, or fake news during the upcoming presidential election.

"The five-year-old story of wanting to contest through negative campaigning is not true. We must compete, but we should compete in a healthy manner. Therefore, we have always opposed identity politics and hoaxes because it is healthy. Thank you if everyone is aware of this," said Ganjar."

He also conveyed that there was no discussion about specific matters with Prabowo. Both only greeted each other. "Because both of us were instructed to talk about education. We respect all ideas," he said.

Regarding President Joko Widodo's support for the 2024 Presidential Election, Ganjar is convinced that in due time, President Jokowi will only support one presidential candidate. According to Ganjar, whoever receives the support must be respected, and the President's decision should be honored.

"The decision from President Jokowi must be respected, whoever he chooses to support. It is his political right," he said.

Communicate well

Found after a Saturday morning discussion, Anies also revealed that in principle, his communication with all parties is going well. Similarly with former Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti, his relationship is very good.

"In principle, communication is good, with everyone is also good," said Anies.

Susi's name has been in the spotlight lately because she met Prabowo and Anies at different times. Anies and Susi's meeting took place on July 25 2023 at Susi's residence in Pangandaran, West Java.

Anies and Susi's meeting was then responded positively by two of Anies' three coalition parties, the Nasdem Party and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS). Susi is said to have a number of criteria for a vice presidential candidate (cawapres) required by Anies.

The Democratic Party sees the meeting as natural and not an attempt to form a coalition between Susi and Anies in the 2024 presidential election.

TWITTER SUSI PUDJIASTUTI

Susi Pudjiastuti and former Governor of DKI Jakarta, Anies Rasyid Baswedan, rode in a car together and toured the Pangandaran area in West Java on Tuesday (25/7/2023).

Anies declined to comment much when asked about the possibility of teaming up with Susi as his potential vice presidential candidate. What is clear, according to him, is that his meeting with Susi went very warmly and happily. "If we are both happy, then how can we not?" said Anies.

He was also reluctant to reveal the name of a vice presidential candidate that he said he had in his pocket. "Rapet, here, the bag, ha-ha-ha," he said jokingly.

Waiting for the momentum

PDI-P Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto stated that the meeting between the Chairman of DPP PDI-P Puan Maharani and the Chairman of Golkar Party Airlangga Hartarto on Thursday (27/7/2023) has yielded positive results in the cooperation between the two parties. This was demonstrated by the flower gift given by Airlangga to Puan.

However, Hasto sees that Golkar is still calculating the momentum first before reaching the stage of declaring political cooperation with PDI-P. "But, yesterday's meeting has provided a very good foundation for the cooperation of both parties," he said.

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

The Chairperson of the Central Executive Board of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Puan Maharani, received flowers from the Chairman of the Golkar Party, Airlangga Hartarto, after a meeting at Airlangga's residence in Jakarta on Thursday (27/7/2023). The meeting was part of a political gathering conducted by Puan to explore coalition possibilities in the 2024 election.

He does not deny that in an effort to establish cooperation, each party will offer their best members as potential vice presidential candidates for Ganjar. This also happened when the United Development Party (PPP) presented the Chairman of its Election Campaign Team (Bappilu) who is also the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, as well as the Perindo Party who offered the name of the Daily Chairman of the Perindo Party Central Executive Board, Tuan Guru Bajang (TGB) Muhammad Zainul Majdi.

However, he emphasized that the selection of Ganjar's vice presidential candidate is awaiting the appropriate moment. In determining the candidate to accompany Ganjar, PDI-P General Chair Megawati Soekarnoputri will certainly have a dialogue with the general chairpersons who have supported Ganjar and also communicate with President Jokowi.

"In this way, later on, the best candidate will be decided, including our respect for the proposed names of each party that supports Mr. Ganjar," said Hasto."

Lately, Golkar no longer sets Airlangga as a potential presidential or vice presidential candidate in the 2024 presidential election. The party with the banyan tree symbol has started discussing the possibility of endorsing Surakarta Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka and West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil as potential presidential or vice presidential candidates.