PDIP Questions Prabowo-Gibran Two-Term Discourse: 'Is Prabowo Even Willing?'

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) has responded to the discourse of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka serving two terms, a proposal championed by the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI). PDIP Executive Board Chairman Deddy Yevri Sitorus questioned whether Prabowo himself would even be willing to run again with Gibran in the 2029 presidential election. “The question is, is Mr Prabowo definitely willing? Ask him first before campaigning,” Deddy said at the parliament complex on Tuesday (23/6). He suggested PSI raised the issue merely to attract public attention, noting the party’s tendency to “piggyback” on controversies rather than build its own base. Deddy also stressed that the next election is still far off and urged the government and political parties to focus on solving pressing public issues first. “Answer the people’s problems first. What about the follow-up to student demands? The government is already overwhelmed, yet they are already thinking about the 2029 election. They are so impatient,” he added. Meanwhile, PSI’s daily chairman Ahmad Ali expressed confidence that Prabowo would again run with Gibran as his running mate in 2029. In a podcast aired on Friday (19/6), Ali stated he did not believe Prabowo would drop Gibran, calling him the most prominent candidate for the vice-presidential slot compared to other potential contenders.