REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Political observer at Paramadina University, Toto Sugiarto said Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and National Mandate Party (PAN) surely would support Prabowo Subianto. Both parties were believed to have given the signals, although not directly showed their support for now.
"I think there are already dealings behind Gerindra Party's decision to give the mandate to its chief patron Prabowo Subianto to be president candidate in 2019 presidential election," said Toto on Thursday (April 12).
According to Toto, PKS and PAN signals to support Prabowo could be seen when Gerindra Party officially confirmed Prabowo's candidacy in 2019 presidential election. Both parties officially attended the event.
Earlier, Gerindra Party confirmed the party has given the mandate to its chief patron to be president candidate in 2019 presidential election during National Coordination Meeting (Rakornas) on Wednesday (April 11). However, Prabowo decided the declaration to wait for the completion of regional election in Banyumas, East Java.
"The declaration will be conducted after we receive letter of our firemds PAN and PKS and vice president candidate. It means most likely the declaration will be in Banyumas," said Gerindra Party deputy chairman, Arief Poyuono.
Some of PAN officials that attended Gerindra Rakornas were Honorary Council Amien Rais and Chairman Zulkifli Hasan. In addition, there was also PKS chairman Sohibul Iman, Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan, and Jakarta deputy governor Sandiaga Uno.