IDNAround – The Great Indonesia Movement Party, or Gerindra, will not allow Sandiaga Uno to become a running mate for Anies Baswedan in the 2024 presidential election, the party’s chairman confirmed on Sunday.
As long as Sandiaga is a member of Gerindra, he must follow the party’s line and decisions, Prabowo Subianto said in a news conference in Bogor, West Java.
Gerindra has nominated Prabowo for the presidential race and it’s unlikely he will allow a party executive to jump ship for a different party and candidate.
“I think Sandi has repeatedly said that he will obey the party’s decision,” Prabowo said, calling Sandiaga by his nickname.
Sandiaga was his running mate in his unsuccessful bid for the 2019 presidential race.
Prior to that, Sandiaga had teamed up with Anies for the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial race and won.
But Prabowo stressed that another Anies-Sandiaga pair is unlikely unless the tourism minister leaves Gerindra.
“As long as he is with the party, he must follow the party line,” Prabowo said.
His remarks came after a meeting with Surya Paloh, the chairman of the National Democratic Party (Nasdem) which has officially nominated Anies as its presidential candidate.
Prabowo said Gerindra and Nasdem would take different paths with their own coalition for the upcoming elections.
“Regarding coalition and the candidates for the president and the vice president, we both agree to respect each other’s political decision,” Prabowo said with Surya standing beside him.
He added both parties share the commitment to peaceful and fair elections and promote healthy competition.
Surya said maintaining good relations between parties despite the heated rivalries is the aim of his visit to Prabowo’s residence.
“We both realize that we must maintain this kind of relationship. Not only will it benefit the two parties, but it is also very important in our nation’s bigger interest. We need to revive our spirit and nationalism and build public awareness of maturity in politics,” Surya said.
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