TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Gerindra Party Deputy Secretary General Andre Rosiade said the support declaration of 34 Gerindra Regional Representative Councils (DPD) for Prabowo Subianto as a presidential candidate would be brought to the party`s National Coordination Meeting (Rakornas) in early April. However, he said that Prabowo`s candidacy is final.

"The cadres at the grassroots have decided to support Prabowo as a presidential candidate from Gerindra, it is impossible to change again," said Andre when contacted in Jakarta on Tuesday, March 13.

The decision was final, Andre said, due to the terms of the 20 percent threshold that already fulfilled by his party and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS). He also considered the cadres have become more solid than in the 2014 General Election. “Coalition is ready, now we just need to invite Democrats, PKB, PAN if they want to follow us or not," he said.

Read: Gerindra Members to Declare Support for Prabowo in 2019 Election

Andre said the declaration will be discussed in the Rakornas as a form of aspirations channel of regional officials. “Trust me, at the right time, Gerindra will declare Mr. Prabowo as a presidential candidate," he said.

The 34 DPD met at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Central Jakarta, Monday night, March 12. The Chairman of Gerindra DPD Jakarta Muhammad Taufik said the meeting held to unite the regional governing board of the presidential candidate who will later be submitted to the central board Gerindra.

Taufik said the meeting was a continuation of the declaration of several DPD board members on 11 March. He believes Prabowo Subianto will run as a presidential candidate in the 2019 general election. Meanwhile, Prabowo has not explicitly stated whether to go forward as a presidential candidate or not.

ARKHELAUS WISNU TRIYOGO