Secretary General (Secretary General) of the PDIP DPP Hasto Kristiyanto explained the absence of the President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo or Jokowi when Mahfud MD was announced as a candidate for vice president (bacawapres) Ganjar Pranowo at the DPP PDIP Office, Menteng, Central Jakarta, Wednesday (18/10/ 2023).
Hasto explained that his party had informed President Jokowi through Minister of Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung. However, Jokowi was unable to attend because he had state duties abroad.
“Yes, regarding Mr President Jokowi, we have conveyed to Mas Pramono Anung Wibowo who is accompanying Mr President that today it was announced and he is carrying out his state duties,” said Hasto.
Secretary General (Sekjen) DPP PDIP Hasto Kristiyanto. (/Bagaskara) The announcement of Mahfud MD as Vice Presidential Candidate for Ganjar was announced directly by the Chairman of the PDI Perjuangan (PDIP) Megawati Soekarnoputri. However, President Jokowi was not present when Megawati announced Mahfud’s name as Ganjar’s running mate in the 2024 presidential election.
Denies the Partnership Breakdown
PDIP DPP Chair Puan Maharani previously denied that there was a partnership breakup between her party and President Joko Widodo or Jokowi.
“There is no breakup at all. Everything is fine. We respect and appreciate each other,” said Puan at the PDIP DPP Office, Central Jakarta, Wednesday.
Puan explained that Jokowi had said that the affairs of presidential candidates (capres) and vice presidential candidates (cawapres) were within the authority of political parties to determine.
“The business of presidential and vice presidential candidates is a matter of political parties, so this is a matter of political parties, namely PDI’s struggle with parties that are together with PDI Perjuangan, there are the Perindo Party, Hanura and PPP,” said Puan.
The issue of a split between the PDIP and Jokowi became more prominent after the decision of the Constitutional Court (MK) which set the minimum age limit for presidential and vice-presidential candidates to remain at 40 years except for people who have served or are currently serving as officials elected through general elections, including regional elections.