TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The race to the 2024 presidency has been heating up since the end of last year. The National Democrat (NasDem) Party’s nomination of Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has caused cracks in Surya Paloh’s relationship with President Joko Widodo. In the 2014 and 2019 elections, NasDem was the first to declare its support for Jokowi, and now Surya Paloh has launched the same maneuver by swiftly announcing its backing for non-partisan candidate Anies Baswedan.
The rift between the two leaders was apparent when NasDem was not invited to a gathering at the State Palace on May 2 although the party was still in the government coalition with three of its cadres still serving as cabinet ministers. Jokowi said he did not invite NasDem because the party already had “a coalition over there.”
When he was asked about his current relationship with Jokowi after nominating Anies Baswedan as a presidential candidate, Surya Paloh pointed to a corner of his office on the 20th floor of the NasDem Tower in Menteng, Central Jakarta. “Whose statue do you see?” It was a statue of Jokowi squatting with the left hand holding his chin. That was how Surya Paloh described his closeness to Jokowi.
During an almost two-hour long interview with Tempo, he answered questions surrounding the issues of the reshuffle within the party, pressure on his businesses after his relationship with Jokowi turned sour as well as political ‘dowry’ by regional heads.
Is it true that NasDem wasn’t invited to the Palace?
Yes. The president told reporters, “I deliberately didn’t invite them. They already have a coalition over there. This is about the coalition’s business. Do they have to know what strategy we are planning?”
What did you make of that statement?
My question is whether I, NasDem, are still in the government coalition or not.
You met with Maritime Affairs and Investment Coordinating Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan on Monday, May 8. Did you discuss your relationship with President?
We did. If possible, we should continue to maintain a cordial relationship.
You said that to Luhut?
Yes. If Mr. President says, “Where is he? I haven’t seen him talking for a while.” Then we can sit down and talk. It’s not hard for me to say that.
He said “coalition over there” because NasDem nominated Anies Baswedan? Did the president suggest not nominating Anies?
Pak Jokowi never said something like that to me.
Or through an intermediary?
A lot of intermediaries. (But) the president didn’t ask (for it).
You met with Jokowi in January. Was the atmosphere still cordial?
People said he rejected my hug. That is not true. He would usually send me, like an older brother, a senior, off to the ground floor, not just till the door of his office. He still did. So, given these parameters, there wasn’t any change.
You once mentioned that your relationship with Jokowi had turned frosty.
That meeting was in January. Now, it’s May.
No more meetings after that?
No.
