capres2014

Democratic Party Officially Throws Support Behind Prabowo

By Carlos Paath on 06:18 pm Jun 30, 2014
Category Featured, News, Politics
Tags: 2014 Indonesia Presidential Election, Democratic Party, Prabowo Subianto


Jakarta. The Democratic Party announced on Monday that it would be abandoning its earlier commitment of neutrality in the 2014 presidential election to throw its support behind Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party candidate Prabowo Subianto.

“The Democratic Party decided and instructed all its members, supporters and associated organizations across Indonesia to fully support and vote for Prabowo-Hatta at the presidential election,” party chairman Syarief Hasan said at a press conference in Jakarta.

Senior party officials Jero Wacik, E.E. Mangindaan, Amir Syamsuddin, Roy Suryo and Edhie Baskoro Yudhoyono were present at the press conference.

“This is our official stance,” Syarief said.

The party had decided at its national meeting in May to remain neutral during the election. Earlier in June, both Prabowo and Hatta and rival Joko Widodo and running mate Jusuf Kalla met with Yudhoyono and senior Democratic Party officials to discuss possible coalitions.

“On June 1, 2014 Prabowo-Hatta outlined their vision and mission and theirs was in line with the Democratic Party’s,” Syarief said.

After the meetings Yudhoyono reiterate that he and the party would remain neutral in the presidential race.

Many analysts have expressed surprise that Yudhoyono did not support Prabowo, who runs with Hatta, whose daughter is married to Edhie Baskoro, Yudhoyono’s son.

The media even reported earlier that Yudhoyono wanted to be part of Joko’s Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) coalition but that party chief Megawati Soekarnoputri, who still felt betrayed by Yudhoyono when he ran against her in the 2004 election, rejected his request.

Analysts have speculated that the Democrats’ support for Prabowo is a result of his rising popularity in various polls.

Yudhoyono may be impressed by Prabowo’s emergence and decided to change his mind. Carlos Paath

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