TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has said he was appreciative of the Great Indonesia Movement [Gerindra] Party’s fresh decision to again name its chief patron Prabowo Subianto as its presidential contender.
“We highly commend and respect Gerindra Party’s decision to name Prabowo Subianto once again as their 2019-2024 presidential candidate,” said Jokowi in a written statement today.
In light of Gerindra’s decision, Jokowi is bound to have a rematch against Prabowo as in the 2014 presidential election.
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Jokowi, however, was non-committal when asked about his strategies in taking on Prabowo, and said instead he was still focusing on working on and completing the government’s programs. “Now is still a long way [from the election],” said the seventh Indonesian president.
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle [PDI-P] and scores of veteran parties such as the Golkar Party, the United Development Party, the NasDem Party, and the Hanura Party, have announced they would back the incumbent president. While new parties declaring support for Jokowi encompass Perindo, PSI, and PKPI.
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To date, Prabowo has only received official support from his own party, the Gerindra Party. The Prosperous Justice Party [PKS] has pledged allegiance to Gerindra.
AHMAD FAIZ IBNU SANI
