TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Mandate Party (PAN) claimed that it would welcome an invitation from the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) to join the coalition in the 2019 Presidential Election. “If Gerindra calls us tomorrow or a day after for declaration, we'll be ready,” said PAN Central Executive Board chairman Yandri Susanto at Senayan Parliamentary Complex on Thursday, July 12.
Yandri said if Gerindra and PAN joined in a party coalition, the presidential threshold of 20 percent could be reached, allowing them to endorse a presidential candidate for the election next year.
Read: Gerindra Stops Proposing Amien Rais as Presidential Candidate
Under Article 222 of Law No. 7/2017 on General Election, a party or party coalition should obtain 20 percent of House’s chair or 25 percent of national votes to support a presidential or vice-presidential candidate in the election. Gerindra has 13 percent while PAN has obtained 8.6 percent of chairs in the House of Representatives (DPR).
Yandri asserted that PAN would have no problem if its cadre were not endorsed as a presidential candidate. PAN deemed, he added, each party could not force their ego.
However, Yandri expressed optimism that PAN chairman Zulkifli Hasan would be endorsed by the coalition as a candidate in the 2019 Presidential Election.
Read: Gerindra Cannot Support Anies Baswedan as Presidential Candidate
Earlier, Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) Central Executive Board chairman Mardani Ali Sera confirmed that the party would form a coalition with Gerindra. “By God’s willing, PKS will stand with Gerindra,” Mardani said at the Senayan Parliamentary Complex on Thursday, July 12.
Mardani expected the Democratic Party to join the coalition. He explained that Gerindra, together with PKS and PAN would have talks on the party coalition in the 2019 Presidential Election.
DEWI NURITA