“Volunteer Groups Supporting Gibran Rakabuming Choose Prabowo as Presidential Candidate for 2024 Election”

CNN Indonesia

Saturday, May 20 2023 05:00 WIB

Only, CNN Indonesia —

At least 15 volunteer groups supporting Jokowi and Gibran Rakabuming support Prabowo Subianto as president in 2024 election future.

This support was conveyed after Prabowo had dinner with Gibran at the Omah Semar angkringan, Solo, Friday (19/5). Prabowo addressed 15 volunteer coordinators Gibran and Jokowi.

Gibran himself did not seem to attend the meeting. He stood outside the meeting forum between the volunteers and Prabowo.

“Prabowo President,” said one of the coordinators after Prabowo’s speech.

“I don’t support when he wins (I support it until it wins),” said another coordinator.

In his speech, Prabowo admitted that he was surprised by the support from the volunteers. According to him, he came to Solo just to meet Gibran.

“To be honest, I stuttered a bit. I was shocked, I frankly meant that I came just to continue the friendship, my friendship with Mas Gibran,” he said.

He did not expect Gibran to actually bring volunteers to the meeting. Moreover, on various occasions, a number of Jokowi’s volunteer leaders stated that they were still waiting for instructions from President Jokowi.

“I was surprised how come it was so lively, it was said that my brothers and sisters had supported me. I thought I was still waiting for a while,” he said.

The defense minister said the support was a great honor for him. According to him, this support means that the volunteers have hope in him.

“The challenge is that those of us who are supported are able or not to fulfill and answer the expectations of ladies and gentlemen,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Coordinator of the Gibran Support Volunteers, Strong Hermawan Santoso said the support from volunteers to Prabowo had gone through a long process. Initially, the volunteers were not willing to support the presidential candidate who had been Jokowi’s rival in the two previous elections.

“Before Eid, friends were still wild. After Eid, Mas Wali was invited to halal bi halal, friends were a bit tame. And today after meeting Pak Prabowo, he is increasingly convinced and hopefully he will remain loyal to the masses,” he said.

Strong added that initially the meeting would be attended by 100 volunteer coordinators from Central and East Java.

“But it’s limited to Mas Gibran, only 15 co-ordinators due to limited space,” he said.

(syd/rds)