Jusuf Kalla Feels More Compatible with AHY Than Anies Baswedan

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Vice President Jusuf Kalla or JK said that theoretically, he is more compatible if he is paired with the Commander of the Task Forces of the Democratic Party, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono or AHY instead of Jakarta Governor Anies Rasyid Baswedan as the 2019 presidential and vice presidential candidate.

The reason said the former chairman of the Golkar Party, he feels to have much difference with the first son of the former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. While with Anies, it is the contrary.

“Too much in common, although he (Anies) was born in Java, he is not very well known as a Javanese,” Kalla said when receiving Tempo's interview at Vice President's Office, Jakarta, Tuesday, July 2.

According to his theory, Kalla explained, people want a couple of presidential and vice presidential candidates who have differences from the origin of parties, groups, or tribes to complement each other.

“With AHY, the difference is much, almost everything is different,” Kalla said. “If from the side of the theory, it must complement each other, yes (compatible),” said Kalla.

Earlier, the Democratic Party was said to embrace Kalla and pair him with AHY as a presidential and vice presidential candidate in 2019. Kalla said there had never been any talk between him and the Democratic Party on this matter.

In addition to no talks, the Democrat Party cannot be alone in nominating the candidates for president. It has only 10 percent of the House of Representatives seats, while the law requires parties to take the presidential candidate pair with 20 percent of seats. “We have not talked about it yet, and the 20 percent will need three more parties,” he said.

He declared that he wanted a break from the political world. But it can change. “The break is still there on it, the interests of the nation and state,” said Kalla.

AHMAD FAIZ IBNU SANI