Gerindra Denies Presidential Nomination Must Be Supported by Three Parliamentary Parties

Juru Bicara Partai Gerindra, Bahtra Banong, has denied rumours of a scenario in the Election Bill (RUU Pemilu) that would require presidential and vice-presidential candidates to be supported by a minimum of three parliamentary parties. Bahtra asserted that the House of Representatives’ Commission II has not yet commenced discussions on the Election Bill. “No, there isn’t. Where did that information come from?” Bahtra said briefly when met at the parliament complex on Tuesday (30/6). He declined to elaborate further, emphasising that Commission II has not yet started deliberating the bill.

The issue was previously raised by Democratic Party Deputy Chairman Benny K. Harman in a newspaper opinion piece. He wrote about a scenario that would limit presidential nominations to pairs supported by at least three parliamentary parties, calling it a dangerous discourse. Meanwhile, Golkar Party Secretary-General Muhammad Sarmuji claimed ignorance of the issue. In a joking tone, he praised the information obtained by Benny. “Until now, there haven’t been any leaks at all. Mr. Benny K. Harman is great, he already has leaks,” Sarmuji said at the parliament complex on Monday (29/6).