TEMPO.CO, Makassar - Functional Group Party (Golkar) chairman Setya Novanto said that his party has been set to support President Joko Widodo or Jokowi for a reelection in 2019, as a survey showed that 68 percent of the people viewed the government programs favorably.
"Golkar fully supports the government, so we need to support Jokowi for a reelection in 2019," Setya said during an inauguration of Golkar's regional executive board in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Sunday night, March 26, 2017.
According to Setya, Golkar's popularity has increased from nine percent to 16.5 percent ever since declared its support for the government. Currently, Setya added, Golkar is ranked as the second most popular party after the Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) with a 20-percent popularity.
"This is thanks to our work at the regional level in Indonesia," Setya, who also serves as the House of Representatives Speaker, added.
Setya added that Golkar must conduct an aggressive consolidation to regions in a bid to disseminate Golkar's support for Jokowi.
"I hope that regional branches started disseminating the declaration by putting up Jokowi’s pictures at their headquarters. Last time I checked, Jokowi's electability was 56 percent, while Prabowo [Subianto] was only 20 percent," Setya explained.
Setya predicted that Jokowi will have a 70-percent chance to win the election if he was to face Prabowo. Setya added that Golkar could win the next election if party's central and regional executive boards, particularly in South Sulawesi, strengthened coordination.
"I call on all Golkar's cadres and leaders in Makassar to maintain Golkar's victory and even increase the party's seats in the 2019 election," Setya said.
DIDIT HARIYADI
