JAKARTA – President Prabowo Subianto expressed his support for the candidate pair for governor and deputy governor of Central Java number 2, Ahmad Luthfi and Taj Yasin. This statement was delivered through a video released in his capacity as General Chair of the Gerindra Party, not as President. Prabowo’s support has become a public spotlight ahead of the 2024 Pilkada, especially in Central Java, and has garnered various positive responses from the public.
Head of the Presidential Communications Office Hasan Nasbi emphasized that Prabowo’s support for the Ahmad Luthfi-Taj Yasin pair is part of his political rights as the General Chair of Gerindra. This support, according to Hasan, is completely legitimate in the context of democracy and in accordance with applicable legal provisions.
“President Prabowo’s invitation to support the candidate pair for governor and deputy governor of Central Java number 2, Ahmad Luthfi and Taj Yasin, was conveyed in his capacity as General Chair of the Gerindra Party,” said Hasan.
Hasan assessed that this step is a form of President Prabowo’s consistency in fighting for his party’s cadres. According to him, President Prabowo’s presence as a political figure with a strong position in the government as well as the General Chair of the Gerindra Party actually shows his commitment not to mix his role as President with his position in the party.
“The support is not an intervention or political “interference” in the implementation of the Pilkada, but rather his step as the General Chair of the Gerindra Party in fighting for the Candidate Pair supported by the Gerindra Party. President Prabowo has the political right to support a particular candidate pair in the Pilkada,” said Hasan Nasbi.
Responding to Prabowo’s support video, Al Azhar University Indonesia Academic, Ujang Komarudin, stated that the support given by President Prabowo Subianto did not conflict with the rules or principles of neutral politics. Ujang explained that President Prabowo conveyed his support purely in his role as the leader of the party that supports the regional head candidate in Central Java, and not as a form of presidential intervention in the Pilkada.
“The video of support delivered by President Prabowo Subianto is not an act of presidential intervention or political interference and does not conflict with the law,” said Ujang Komarudin.
Ujang emphasized that as a figure with a military background and a long political track record, President Prabowo understands the limitations of his role as President and as the General Chairman of the party. According to him, this support is nothing new in the world of politics, and it is legitimate for a party leader to show political partisanship in the realm of regional elections.
“The support was conveyed by President Prabowo as the General Chair of the Gerindra Party which supported Ahmad Lutfhi in the 2024 Central Java Pilkada,” added Ujang.
On the same occasion, Ujang also highlighted that President Prabowo’s move could strengthen political cadres at the regional level. According to Ujang, this support provides a positive impetus for strengthening the party’s base and delivering pro-people programs. He assessed that by supporting Ahmad Luthfi and Taj Yasin, President Prabowo gave a real example of how national leaders continue to pay attention to political developments in the regions without interfering with the ongoing democratic process.
This support also shows that President Prabowo is consistent with his political stance so far. As the General Chairperson of Gerindra, President Prabowo has a responsibility to support candidates who are considered capable of bringing progress to their regions and have a vision that is in line with the party’s goals. President Prabowo is also considered to have built a transparent communication pattern with the public, where every decision is conveyed openly and can be accounted for.
President Prabowo indicated that the support was a form of his participation as a party leader without violating the principle of neutrality he upholds as President. This step reflects how a national leader and party figure can maintain a balance of roles and commitment to a healthy democratic process.