REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Golkar Party secretary general Lodewijk F Paulus said the party chairman Airlangga Hartarto would not be promoted as 2019 presidential candidate. He asserted that it was an impossible discourse.
Paulus stressed that Golkar Party remained solid to support President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) who become presidential candidate from Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P). “Golkar Party supports Jokowi as presidential candidate, so it means Airlangga may not be promoted,” said Paulus on Friday (June 29).
Meanwhile, according to him, parties coalition who support Jokowi are still negotiating about Jokowi's running-mate. Moreover, the vice presidentital candidate figure must get approval first from Jokowi.
“There will be decision, at least on August 10,” Paulus added.
On other hand, Paulus refused to comment about the possibility of Golkar Party to seize the commander's rod for supporting coalition parties. Although Golkar Party won the most victory on the latest regional elections, but the issue must be discussed first and agreed with other supporting parties.
“We’ll talk later because coalition parties have same position,” said Paulus.
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Meanwhile, political observer who also Jakarta-based Voxpol Center Research and Consulting executive director Pangi Syarwi Chaniago said Jokowi will choose running-mate from professional figure to keep solidity of coalition parties. He also assessed Jokowi can choose person from party that has high electability.
According to Pangi, if the decision on Jokowi's running-mate is in PDI-P general chairman Megawati's hand, then the figure emerged later would be her party cadre. There is also possibility that she choose professional figure, but none of those figures have potency to seize power in 2024 presidential election.
“For Jokowi, the electability is really important and he doesn’t talk about 2024 presidential election,” said Pangi.
On the other hand, PDI-P paid a lot of attention to 2024 election. In order to secure its position in the 2024 election, PDI-P set aside vice presidential figure other than its cadre.
"If Jokowi's running-mate still shining in 2024, it will endanger PDI-P sustainability," he said.
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