REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Gerindra Party chief patron Prabowo Subianto asked the people be patient in waiting decision of opposition coalition on his vice presidential candidate. He was reluctant to confirm whether Jakarta deputy governor and member of Gerindra Party Board of Trustees Sandiaga Uno was chosen as his running mate.

Prabowo explained the name was still being discussed. He admitted it was not easy to reach agreement between supporting parties.

"Democracy is not easy, we must go through a lot of discussion. So we have to be relax," Prabowo said at his residence at Kertanegara street, South Jakarta, on Thursday.

Also read: Prabowo to announce his running mate on Thursday

Earlier, Prabowo visited Democratic Party chairman Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY)’s residence in Mega Kuningan, Jakarta on Thursday morning. He arrived at 09.54 WIB (Indonesia West Standard Time) and left at 10.35 WIB.

However, after the meeting, Prabowo did not give many comments. He went to his car and opened the window.

Prabowo explained his party will continue to communicate with Democratic Party about the coalition. “We will continue our discussion,” said Prabowo.

The meeting between Prabowo and SBY was also attended by several officials from Gerindra Party and Democratic Party. Some of the officials are Democratic Party secretary general Hinca Pandjaitan. Democratic Party advocacy and legal division head Ferdinand Hutahaean, and Gerindra Party deputy chairman Fadli Zon.

The parties officials refused to comment about the meeting. Ferdinand said coalition between Gerindra Party and Democratic Party was still intact. He also expected everything went well.

“If the coalition dissolves, there is certainly no meeting. Today's meeting proves that the coalition is still there and not disbanded,” said Ferdinand.

Earlier, Gerindra Party secretary general Ahmad Muzani said the meeting between Prabowo and SBY was to discuss continuation of the coalition following communication problem. He stressed the problem has created misunderstanding in the coalition process.

Yesterday (Aug 8), Prabowo canceled the plan to announce his presidential candidate. Muzani explained the opposition camp has not reached agreement.

According to Muzani, Prabowo will declare his running mate on Thursday night at his house. Muzani admitted the discussion was still focused on some selected figures. However, he acknowledged new names arose in the discussion, namely Commander of Joint Task Force of the Democrat Party Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY)'s and Deputy Chairman of the Gerindra Party Board of Trustees Sandiaga Uno.

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