PPP Clerics to Submit Recommendation

Hundreds of clerics at the PPP will submit a number of recommendations to President Jokowi, including on potential vice presidential candidates for presidential election and programs to be carried out should Jokowi be reelected.

ANTARA FOTO/MUHAMMAD ADIMAJA

Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto waves to party members after attending a national working meeting in Jakarta on Thursday. During the closed-door meeting, Prabowo was set to give directives to the party members and to deliver a political speech.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Hundreds of clerics at the United Development Party (PPP) will submit a number of recommendations to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, including on potential vice presidential candidates for the 2019 presidential election and programs to be carried out should Jokowi be reelected.

The recommendations will be formulated at the PPP National Assembly of Clerics in Semarang, Central Java, this Friday (13/4) and Saturday.

The assembly will be led by prominent cleric and PPP advisory board chairman Maimoen Zubair, as well as PPP executive Syukron Makmun. Around 400 PPP clerics are expected to join the assembly.

PPP secretary-general Arsul Sani said in Jakarta on Thursday (12/4) the 2014 National Assembly of Clerics had recommended several presidential candidates. Therefore, it remains a possibility that clerics in the upcoming assembly will make recommendations of vice presidential candidates for Jokowi in 2019.

The recommendation will be in line with the PPP’s decision to support Jokowi as a presidential candidate in the 2019 election.

Other than the PPP, four other political parties with seats at the House of Representatives have named Jokowi as their presidential candidates: the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the Golkar Party, Nasdem and Hanura.

Among coalition members, the matter of Jokowi’s vice presidential candidate will be discussed after the 2018 simultaneous regional elections in June. However, several coalition-member political parties have begun to come up with criteria for suitable candidates and have even proposed names for Jokowi’s running mate.

Arsul said he had no idea who the clerics would recommend as Jokowi’s possible running mates. It is possible that PPP chair Romahurmuziy is among the recommended figures.

Apart from discussing potential vice presidential candidates for Jokowi, the clerics will also evaluate the performance of Jokowi’s administration since 2014. From this evaluation, the clerics will formulate things to improve and include as Jokowi’s work program if he is reelected. “There will be a ‘political contract’ with Jokowi,” Arsul said.

PPP deputy secretary-general Achmad Baidowi said the vice president and program recommendations would be submitted to Jokowi by PPP executives. Specifically for vice presidential recommendations, PPP executives will also deliver the names to members of Jokowi’s coalition.

Separately, National Awakening Party (PKB) chair Muhaimin Iskandar said he remained optimistic that he would be chosen as Jokowi’s running mate. If Jokowi does not pick him, he said he would be “Brokenhearted. I’ll go to my room, lock the door and go to sleep.”

KOMPAS/AUFRIDA WISMI WARASTRI

Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subiyanto delivers speech during a declaration for the nomination of Edy Rahmayadi-Musa Rejekshah to run in North Sumatra gubernatorial election at Merdeka Square, Medan, on Sunday (7/1). The pair was supported by five political parties controlling 50 percent of seats at the North Sumatra Legislative Council, namely Gerindra, Golkar, PKS, Nasdem and PAN.

Political communications

After Gerindra chair Prabowo Subianto expressed his readiness to contest the 2019 election, Gerindra said it would intensify its communications with other political parties. Other than to build support for Prabowo, the move will also involve seeking potential running mates for him.

“Starting from today, we will talk with other parties to work together in supporting Prabowo,” Gerindra secretary-general Ahmad Muzani said.

Communications will be opened to all political parties and will not be limited only to undecided parties. Parties who have expressed their support for Jokowi will also be approached. Muzani said their support might still change.

Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) chair Sohibul Iman said Prabowo’s running mate should come from the PKS if Gerindra sought to build a coalition with the party. “As PKS chair with a mandate from the PKS’ religious assembly, I am fighting to make a PKS member a vice presidential candidate,” he said.

National Mandate Party (PAN) chair Zulkifli Hasan said the party remained undecided in terms of presidential and vice presidential candidates to support in next year’s election.

(APA/AGE)