TheIKNPost.com – In a closed meeting at the DPP PAN office last Thursday evening, the General Chair of the Crescent Star Party (PBB), Yusril Ihza Mahendra, met with the General Chair of the National Mandate Party (PAN), Zulkifli Hasan or Zulhas. Journalists’ observations showed that Yusril arrived at the PAN office along with several high-ranking PAN party officials at 08.00 WIB. After shaking hands, Yusril and Zulhas then walked to the room on the 3rd floor to start their meeting which took place behind closed doors.
According to Yusril’s statement, this meeting discussed support for presidential candidates and vice presidential candidates in the 2024 presidential election. Yusril himself had previously met with the General Chair of the Gerindra Party, Prabowo Subianto, on Thursday, April 6 2023, at Prabowo’s house, Jalan Kertanegara, South Jakarta .
This meeting attracted the attention of many parties considering that PBB and PAN are two political parties that have quite significant ideological differences. However, both of them seem to have similarities in considering support for presidential and vice presidential candidates in the 2024 presidential election.
What is interesting about this meeting is the speculation and public attention, especially considering that there is still quite a long time until the 2024 presidential election is held. This meeting was very interesting, considering that PBB is a party founded by the former Indonesian Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, in 1998, as a continuation of the People’s Sovereignty Movement (GKR) which he led. At that time, GKR was a group supporting Suharto and his political party, Golkar. On the other hand, PAN was founded in 1998 by Amien Rais, who is a former student activist and politician from Islamic circles.
The PBB Party has supporters from various levels of society, including nationalists, Muslims, and also several former activists of the 30 September Movement (G30S). Meanwhile, PAN has strong support from Islamic circles, especially from the Muhammadiyah group.
This meeting gave rise to speculation about the possibility of a large coalition for the 2024 presidential election. This idea emerged after a meeting of 5 high-ranking political party officials with President Joko Widodo (Jokowi). According to Yusril, a large coalition will unite all political forces and is ideal for democracy in Indonesia. “This means that if there is a large coalition, of course all political forces will be united, there will no longer be anything outside and that is indeed very ideal, a typical Indonesian democracy based on brotherhood.
