PAN Supports Amien Rais despite Founders Urge Him to Quit

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Secretary-General of National Mandate Party (PAN), Eddy Soeparno, claimed his party is rooted to support the position and political views of Amien Rais. Eddy made the statement as a response to an open letter sent by founders of the party, namely Abdillah Toha, Albert Hasibuan, Goenawan Mohamad, Toety Heraty, and Zumrotin.

Eddy said the central board (DPP) of PAN has yet received the letter. “We respect their position, but we want their respect to our position in DPP PAN that solid to back Pak Amien Rais, related to his position and political view,” Eddy told Tempo, Wednesday, December 26.

He explained the five men are PAN founders who have been long inactive in the party and support the incumbent presidential candidate Jokowi-Ma’ruf Amin, while the party backs the opposition Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno.

Read also: PAN Founders Want Amien Rais to Step Down

“I personally disregard their request,” said Eddy who is also the deputy head of the National Campaign Agency of Prabowo-Sandiaga.

A previous report suggested that Abdillah Toha and the four men wrote an open letter urging Amien Rais to withdraw from practical politics and hand over the party to the generation below him.

According to the men, Amien has deviated from PAN principles that uphold freedom of speech and democracy. In contrast, Amien Rais is showing sympathy and support for —and even joining—politicians who want to restore the power of the New Order.

Eddy asked his internal party to remain solid. He also demanded all parties not to generate an issue that PAN does not have a sense of togetherness. According to him, PAN will continuously follow the instruction of the party chairman Zulkifli Hasan to win the legislative and presidential election.

BUDIARTI UTAMI PUTRI