JakartaPost-Aug 9
Gerindra Party leader Prabowo Subianto is looking increasingly likely to contest the 2024 presidential election as his party works to seal a coalition deal with the National Awakening Party (PKB), the nation’s largest Muslim-based party. The 70-year-old politician is the only party leader with a viable chance against Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo and Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, who are still seeking official support from political parties to join the election. With the PKB’s support, Gerindra is set to field Prabowo in 2024 — his third attempt at the presidency after losing twice to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in 2014 and 2019. In a symbolic move signalling their alliance, Prabowo and PKB chairman Muhaimin Iskandar on Monday registered their parties for the 2024 general elections at the General Elections Commission (KPU). The two party leaders, who plan to officially announce their alliance on Aug. 13, went together to the KPU headquarters in Central Jakarta from Sunda Kelapa Mosque. At a press briefing, Prabowo noted that both Gerindra and the PKB were ready to be “good participants” in the election’s democratic process. ‘Strong signal’ Gerindra had since July sent strong signals that it would collaborate with the PKB, with the latter claiming that it had nominated Muhaimin as Prabowo’s vice-presidential candidate in June. While the Gerindra chair had recently confirmed that the two parties were now parts of one coalition, Muhaimin noted that more time would be needed until the two could reveal how their partnership would manifest. So far, Prabowo has yet to announce who will be his running vice for 2024. Read more at: https://www.thejakartapost.com/paper/2022/08/08/prabowo-ready-to-contest-2024-poll.html.
