IO, Jakarta – In preparation for the 2020 simultaneous Regional Elections, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (Partai Demokrasi Indonesia Perjuangan – “PDIP”)’s General Secretary Hasto Kristiyanto urges all of the Party’s cadres to go down and meet the people in their respective regions. “PDIP is not an elite party. PDIP has grown big because of the people. So, the key word is to “go down”. You go down, down, meet the people. Any PDIP elites who do not go down does not deserve to be called our cadre,” he said in his speech when he was visiting the Office of PDIP’s Branch Leadership Council (Dewan Pimpinan Cabang – “DPC”) in the Regency of Bojonegoro on Monday (09/12/2019).
Hasto further reminded PDIP’s cadres to cooperate with each other, as winning elections is a collective effort. “No matter what the election is, candidates and cadres move because of their beliefs to help each other, not because of promises of money or position. There are no outstanding individuals – winning elections is collective work,” he said.
When asked about which candidates will be submitted, Hasto only reiterates that PDIP will base its choices on the people’s aspirations. Therefore, PDIP opens up the opportunity for the best sons and daughters of the nation to submit themselves for candidacy. “PDIP listens to the people’s aspirations. Therefore, any candidate we offer is a mixture of the Party’s internal and external aspirations. This is our pattern,” he said.
Hasto further stated that PDIP would not discriminate against any Regional Head Candidate who has registered for the Elections, including President Jokowi’s son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who submitted himself as a candidate for the Mayor of Solo, and the President’s son-in-law, Bobby Afif Nasution, who put himself up as candidate for Mayor of Medan.
All candidates who want PDIP’s support must pass strict tests, and they are selected according to the wishes of the people. Finally, the candidacy itself is decided upon by PDIP’s General Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri. “This is why PDIP is a great party – because, as in our name, we struggle for the sake of democracy. Democratic opportunity is wide open for all of the Party’s cadres who want to become a Regional Head or Vice Head, as long as they pass the capacity test,” he said. (dan)