TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) offered Anies Baswedan and Ahmad Heryawan as presidential and vice presidential candidates to Gerindra party and others for the presidential election next year. The names were brought up in the simulation of presidential candidacy held by PKS today, July 3.
“Anies' name has been made around in PKS internal since times ago,” said PKS official Suhud Aliyudin today via a phone call. During consideration process, many cadres expected Anies to run in the election despite the name was not listed in the nine candidates since the latter was not the party’s member.
Recently, Gerindra suggested the party coalition willing to accept the candidates outside the list. “We respond it that it is unfortunate should Pak Anies becomes the vice presidential candidate because our efforts to win it is huge; involving the community.” Thus, PKS offered Anies Baswedan as a presidential candidate with Ahmad Heryawan as his running mate.
According to Suhud, PKS was determined to offer Anies-Aher ticket should Prabowo or Gerindra suggested Anies as the vice presidential candidate.
Suhud admitted PKS had yet officially offered any candidate to Gerindra considering both parties had not had meetings on the matter following the regional head elections or Pilkada. Aside from Anies and Aher, Gatot Nurmantyo and Chairul Tanjung were also brought up during the simulation.
PKS was aware of its capacity which could not support its own candidates for the 2019 presidential election. “We have only 7 percent of the national vote,” Suhud mentioned, “So we offer many alternatives, one of which is the Anies-Aher ticket.”
REZKI ALVIONITASARI
