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Prabowo and Suryadharma share stage

Jakarta Post - March 24, 2014

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Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – The Gerindra Party and the Islamic-based United Development Party (PPP) appeared to have mended ties after a falling out in the 2009 presidential election, with leaders from both parties appearing together during a political rally at Bung Karno Stadium in Central Jakarta on Sunday.

The participation of PPP chairman Suryadharma Ali, accompanied by two other party executives – Djan Faridz, who is also the public housing minister, and Muslim cleric Nur Iskandar – in the event raised speculation that the two parties would ally in the July presidential election.

"The Gerindra Party rally today is also attended by the PPP chairman and two other important figures from the party. This is unusual but at the same time also proves that patriots can work together and be very close to one another," Gerindra chief patron and presidential hopeful Prabowo Subianto told the crowd.

Prabowo also praised the PPP for its blend of religion and nationalism. "PPP is a religion-based party but it is also a patriotic and nationalist one. Meanwhile, we are a nationalist party but also religious and we respect all religions," Prabowo said to thunderous applause.

Prabowo claimed that Suryadharma had asked to join the event. "Gerindra will never forget those who are kind to us. Others might forget the kindness of some people, but we should not. We will return Pak Suryadharma's kindness a dozen times over. [I] will also attend the PPP campaign," said Prabowo, who was the chief of the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus) during the New Order regime.

After completing his speech, Prabowo invited Suryadharma to address the crowd, during which he applauded Prabowo's vision for the country.

"I see faces that are full of optimism for a change in the future. Gerindra is right in electing Pak Prabowo as its leader. My love for him has grown stronger because of his clear vision and mission [for the future]," Suryadharma said. In closing, Suryadharma hummed the Gerindra tagline: "Now is the time. If not Pak Prabowo, who else?"

PPP had professed its support for Gerindra in the 2009 election, but the party made an about-face at the 11th hour and backed the Democratic Party, which then built a ruling coalition with Golkar, the National Awakening Party (PKB), the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the National Mandate Party (PAN).

As a result of the defection, Gerindra teamed up with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) to nominate chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri as presidential candidate with Prabowo as running mate. The Hanura Party led by Wiranto also joined the coalition. There have been unconfirmed reports that Prabowo personally confronted Suryadharma over breaking his pledge of support.

When asked about a possible coalition in this year's election, Suryadharma said briefly that it was too soon to discuss the matter and emphasized that he spoke at the event to "promote good work between competing political parties".

Separately, Prabowo said he was confident that the PPP would not renege on a promise to support Gerindra this time. "[PPP] probably did it because we didn't manage to secure enough seats [in the House of Representatives]," he said.

Gerindra only garnered 4.46 percent of the popular vote in the 2009 election, which translated into 26 seats in the House, while PPP got 6.61 percent of the vote and 37 seats.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/03/24/prabowo-and-suryadharma-share-stage.html.