TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Vice Chairman Gerindra Arief Puyuono said Gerindra proposed the general chairman Prabowo Subianto run as presidential candidate in 2019 election. Prabowo, said Arief, is willing to be a candidate and asking for the younger generation (milennial) to accompany him. "Pak Prabowo should indeed choose a young candidate to keep up with him," he said, Saturday, March 3.

Arief stated the millennial generation has a big contribution in determining the next president. Indonesia has entered a golden era in its economic growth because of the demographic bonus. "So (the next president) must understand the millennial generation and run the economy," he said.

However, the decision to elect a vice president candidate will be determined by party coalition. Arief encouraged women of the millenial generation, such as Surabaya Mayor Tri Risma, Coordinating Human Development and Cultural Affairs Minister Puan Maharani, and member of the House of Representatives from Indonesian DemocraticParty of Struggle (PDI-P) Puti Guntur Soekarno.

Anticorruption activists, such as Abraham Samad, Arief said, is also able to enter the presidential election next year since he has a good track record.

Party cadres also have a chance to enter the election including Zulkifli Hasan from the National Mandate Party (PAN) and Muhaimin Iskandar from the National Awakening Party (PKB). However, Arief assessed, to gain massive supporters, smart and excellent millennial generation must be involved.

Imam Hamdi