TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) spokesperson M. Iqbal confirmed the statement by Sudirman Said, a Team 8 member of the Coalition for Change, that the party is being lured to leave the coalition. Iqbal said the offers are in the form of positions in the government and money.

The Coalition for Change is the alliance between the opposition parties in the legislative body, namely PKS, Democrat Party, and NasDem, endorsing former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan as a presidential candidate in the 2024 election.

Iqbal stated that his side is proven to be solid. PKS is now focusing on completing the process of determining the vice presidential candidate for Anies along with the NasDem Party and the Democrat Party.

“PKS has been proven [to be solid]. Until now, PKS stays outside the government and is currently focused on the declaration of Anies Baswedan's partner,” Iqbal said when contacted, on Thursday, June 8, 2023.

Iqbal was reluctant to reveal which party makes such an attempt and emphasized that PKS will stay in the Coalition for Change.

Previously, Sudirman Said stated that temptations are still going on for Anies Baswedan and the coalition. He said the attempts are not merely internal claims but are also noticed by observers who are external parties.

He stressed that however, the coalition remains solid and united in an effort to fight for ideas, programs, and solutions to problems in society.

“We are grateful that all these parties stick to yesterday's agreement. And it feels like there's more and more pressure, temptations, but those don’t make them getting looser but tighter,” said Sudirman in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.

Other than PKS, a number of political observers saw attempts to destabilize the Coalition for Change by mentioning Democrat Party chairman Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono alias AHY as a candidate who will run alongside would-be presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo, who is endorsed by ruling party PDIP, in the 2024 presidential election.

A political analyst Arifki Chaniago considered the offer made by PDIP central executive board chairperson Puan Maharani as a temptation of political faith to the Democrat Party.

IMA DINI SHAFIRA

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