PAN-Golkar Supports Prabowo, PDIP: We are used to being beaten politically
The Golkar Party and the National Mandate Party (PAN) officially declared their support for Gerindra chairman Prabowo Subianto. PDIP DPP chairman Said Abdullah then strengthened the support base for Ganjar Pranowo.
"With the current political cooperation that has been established between PDI Perjuangan, PPP, Hanura and Perindo, of course we will further strengthen this support base for support for Ganjar Pranowo as a presidential candidate for 2024," Said told reporters, Sunday (13/ 8/2023).
Said said that his party was not discouraged by the increasing strength of Prabowo's party. He then reviewed the 2014 presidential election that won Jokowi-Jusuf Kalla, even though the coalition parties at that time were quite far apart.
"As a reflection material, in the 2014 presidential election, the pair Jokowi and Jusuf Kalla were only carried by the PDI Perjuangan, PKB, Nasdem, Hanura and PKPI. Even though at that time, in terms of the number of parties supported in the presidential election, we were far behind," said Said.
"However, with solidity and strong political work at the grassroots, it has been proven that the Jokowi-JK pair was actually able to win the presidential election with 53.15 percent of the vote, while Prabowo Hatta got 46.88 percent," he continued.
Said stressed that his party would work smart and prioritize concern to the grassroots. Said alluded to the history of the party which was often beaten politically.
"PDI Perjuangan has a long history as a party that was educated and raised accustomed to being beaten politically. In the New Order era we experienced that, and during Jokowi JK's era, so is it now," said Said.
"Therefore, we need to remind all PDI Perjuangan cadres, we have experienced the bitterness of history, it is precisely from this long experience that we must strengthen our fighting mentality. We have to be able to go as far as we can through steep political roads, and that's how our fighting mentality is formed," he continued.
Said said that PDIP should not be complacent with power, cadres must remember the struggle they have been through so far. He said so far, Ganjar has the support of parties that have advantages.
"There is PPP which has the power of the kiai and santri ranks who are firm in the path of political da'wah. We are friends with the Perindo Party which has a network of media power, and the Hanura Party which has a force to be reckoned with, especially outside Java," said Said.
Said believes that the figure of Ganjar will surely be loved by the people. Apart from being successful in leading Central Java, Ganjar is also seen as capable of committing to eradicating corruption.
"Ganjar Pranowo has many comparative advantages, his good track record while leading Central Java, his high commitment to a government that is free of corruption and free of conflicts of interest, as well as his thick political faith in carrying out the path of national politics that protectstolerance, cultural, ethnic and religious diversity, as well as a polite and humble personality," he concluded.