February 7, 2024
JAKARTA – Presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto claims to have the support of three Indonesian presidents in his current bid for the nation’s highest office, including one who has been deceased for some 15 years.
Besides former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), who has publicly declared his support for the candidate, Prabowo claimed to be backed by incumbent President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and to “sense” the support of the late Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid, the nation’s fourth president.
“I feel that behind me, there is the support of three presidents. President Jokowi is clearly one of them. It’s also clear that the sixth president SBY [supports me],” Prabowo said during a rally in Jakarta on Friday, as quoted by cnnindonesia.com.
“And I also sense the support of president Abdurrahman Wahid behind me.”
The Gerindra Party chairman added that he would follow Jokowi’s example in reconciling with his political opponents, referring to how the President had offered him the post of defense minister despite having been on opposing sides in the 2014 and 2019 elections.
“When he invited [me for] reconciliation, those who convinced me were the young members of Gerindra,” said Prabowo.
“They came to me, saying there’s a message from President Jokowi, and that was the message. I decided in just half an hour.”
Prabowo said he would be willing to team up with all stakeholders if he won the election, regardless of whether they had supported him.
“I also want to follow his example. If we receive a mandate from the people of Indonesia, I will embrace all forces. I say, I am determined to be the president for all Indonesian people,” said Prabowo, as quoted by liputan6.com.
Prabowo asserted that his statement was a promise to every citizen, not just those who would vote for him in the upcoming election.