REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Deputy secretary-general of Gerindra Party Andre Rosiade said the opposition camp was still discussing the possibility to pair Prabowo Subianto with one of two vice presidential candidates in the presidential election 2019. He denied the accusation coming from Democratic Party's elite, Andi Arief, related to transactional politics.
"Frankly, the discussion was still focused on two names, namely Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) and Sandiaga Uno," he said when contacted by Republika.co.id on Wednesday (Aug 8) night.
The opposition camp held a meeting at Prabowo's house at Kertanegara street, South Jakarta on Wednesday night. Chairman of the PAN Honorary Board Amien Rais, PAN Chairman Zulkifli Hasan, Member of the Board of Trustees of the Gerindra Party Sandiaga Uno, and former campaign manager of AHY, Wisnu Wardhana attended the meeting.
AHY's and Sandiaga's names were mentioned in the discussion, Andre said. He asked all parties to be patient in waiting decision of parties leader in the opposition camp.
He asserted Gerindra Party did not involved in transactional politics to enable Sandi to run as vice presidential candidate. "It's not true that Bang Sandi gave Rp500 billion to Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and National Mandate Party (PAN). No. There is no such transaction," he reiterated.
Andre deplored Andi's accusation against Gerindra, PKS and PAN. Moreover, Andi has insulted Prabowo as presidential candidate who was carried by the coalition to challenge the incumbent President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).
He called on all parties to refrain from making statements as the Prabowo's coalition were still discussing vice presidential candidate. Andre asked all parties to practice politeness in politics. "Do not accuse each other," he said.
Andi tweeted a harsh statement on his personal Twitter account @AndiArief__. He seemed to be disappointed to hear Sandiaga's name arose as Prabowo's presidential candidate.
"Prabowo turned out to be cardboard, tonight we refused him to come to Kuningan. No use to explain it even in written. Prabowo valued money more than the struggle. General cardboard," Andi said in his Twitter account on Aug 8.
Andi did not mention the amount of money allegedly given by Sandiaga to PKS and PAN. "Later. I'm on a meeting," he said when contacted by Republika.co.id on Wednesday night.
PKS insisted to consider Ijtima' Ulemas recommendation which nominates PKS Syura (Advisory) Council chairman Salim Segaf Al-Jufri and prominent preacher ustaz Abdul Somad Batubara as vice presidential candidate. PKS Chairman Sohibul Iman said the coalition constalation will be scattered if ulemas' recommendation is not followed.
"If it happens, then PKS can carry on with its nine candidates," Sohibul remarked.
Prabowo has paid a visit to Salim's house to discuss the recommendation. However, he did not give any statement on the result of their meeting.
Earlier, Democratic Party General Chairman Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is also Indonesia's sixth president, has acknowledged Prabowo as presidential candidate by joining the camp. SBY did not asked Prabowo to pick his son, AHY, to be vice presidential candidate. He let Prabowo decide the right figure to accompany him in the election.
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