Gen. Prabowo Receives Support from the Powerful Golkar Party for 2024 Election

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - General Prabowo Subianto received political support from the leader of Golkar Party, Airlangga Hartarto. This latest development is strengthening Prabowo's political muscles for 2024 elections as his Gerindra Party and Golkar Party are the second and the third most powerful parties in the parliament.

Both politicians are members of President Joko Widodo's cabinet. Prabowo is the minister for defense, while Airlangga serves as the coordinating minister of economic affairs. 

The declaration was signed on Sunday and now Prabowo has secured support from four political parties in the parliament, including Gerindra. Airlangga said the support for Prabowo is the aspiration from the Golkar members. 

"Surely Golkar had already consolidated internally, whether with the regionals and the seniors alike. Surely this is the direction which has been asked by all the members of the party," said Airlangga on Monday (14/8). 

Airlangga denied this political support was meant to calm the tension inside the Golkar Party, saying that the discord had already stopped before.

VP Seat for Airlangga?

Airlangga originally intended to run as the president, although the conglomerate never ranks highly in polls. Now Golkar Party hopes that Airlangga can be a candidate for VP. 

Political analyst from University of Indonesia, Aditya Perdana, also believes Airlangga has a good chance to be VP.

But Aditya noted that Airlangga may face tough competition from potential candidates from the other parties of Prabowo's coalition. The other two parties in Prabowo's coalition are the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the Nation Awakening Party (PKB).

Aditya said PAN is proposing Minister for State-Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir, while PKB wants their leader Cak Imin, who is currently the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, for the VP.

"Determining the VP from those names will not be easy to make in the coalition," said Aditya.

Secretary General of Golkar Party, Lodewijk F Paulus, said that his party will be waiting for the discussion among the party leaders.

"The leaders will surely talk, surely with Mr. Prabowo," said Lodewijk.

Prabowo also received support from the religious Crescent Star Party (PBB) but the party does not have any seat in the parliament.

 

 

 

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Lisza Egeham and Fachri contributed to this report.