Ex-military chief in Yudhoyono era named Prabowo campaign head

POLITIC - JAKARTA. Democratic Party secretary-general Hinca Panjaitan has confirmed that Gerindra Party politician and former Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Djoko Santoso will head the Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno campaign team.

“About Pak Djoko, it’s not about claims [anymore]. This is a fact and we have conducted meetings with him. It’s only a matter of time before we announce it,” Hinca said on Tuesday.

Previously, several candidates were rumored to be the campaign’s team chairman, including Democratic chairman and former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, his son Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono and National Mandate Party (PAN) chairman Zulkifli Hasan.

Prabowo’s coalition, however, seems to have settled on Djoko, who was the commander of the TNI under Yudhoyono, thanks to his lobbying ability.

Prabowo confirmed that his campaign team would be led by Djoko.

Born in Surakarta on Sept. 8, 1952, Djoko served as Kodam Jaya military commander and army chief of staff before being appointed TNI chief in 2007 by then-president Yudhoyono. After he retired, he joined Gerindra.

Hinca said the structure of the campaign team had been deliberated by members of the coalition.

“It’s all complete. All political parties have prepared [a list of people who will join the team] and we will report it soon,” he added.

The official campaign period for the election starts on Sept. 23.