Minister for Tourism Sandiaga Uno Ready to Join 2024 Election

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Another minister from President Joko Widodo's cabinet openly shows interest in joining the 2024 presidential race. Minister for Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno says he is ready for the election, citing his defeat as an experience. 

The easygoing minister was a running mate of General Prabowo Subianto in the 2019 election against the current President Joko Widodo (Jokowi). Both Sandiaga and Prabowo are now working as Jokowi's ministers after a shocking political U-turn.

"I am the alumni [sic] from the previous contest. I am ready to receive the trust to fight again," said Sandiaga Uno to reporters in Depok, West Java, Friday (9/12/2022). 

Moreover, Sandiaga Uno said he has established contacts with a political party which shows interest to support him in the 2024 election.

However, he does not seek to become a presidential candidate. Sandiaga will let the political party decide whether he fits to be the presidential or vice-presidential candidate. 

"There has been discussions, but of course it's the domain within the political party. We have to respect it and give appreciation that it is the political party which will decide," said Sandiaga Uno.

According to his 2019 interview with Bloomberg, Sandiaga Uno spent nearly $100 million to oust President Joko Widodo. 

When Jokowi was indicated to win the re-election in April that year, the pale-faced Sandiaga was seen accompanying General Prabowo who boldly read his own victory speech.

Three months later, Sandiaga eventually congratulated Jokowi for winning the election.

Sandiaga Uno is not the only cabinet member who has shown interest in the 2024 Election. There are at least three ministers who are seen as strong contenders for the next election. 

One of them is Minister for Defense General Prabowo. If Prabowo truly joins the race, this will be his fourth election. He already lost three times, President Jokowi defeated him twice, and former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono did it once.

Minister for State-Owned Enterprises, Erick Thohir, is also indicated as the potential candidate. Erick Thohir and Sandiaga Uno are long-time friends.

The Minister for Investment Bahlil Lahadalia publicly named Erick as one of the potential presidential candidates during his speech in November. President Joko Widodo was also present in that event, but he did not contradict Bahlil.

Another powerful figure is Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto who is the head of Golkar Party. The party is the second most powerful party in the Parliament after Jokowi's party.

Prabowo is also supported by his Gerindra party, meanwhile Sandiaga and Erick have yet to announce their political backing.

Alma Fikhasari from Merdeka.com contributed to this report.