Prabowo Has Change to Pick Mahfud as His Running Mate

Jakarta (Antara) - Presidential hopeful Prabowo Subianto has a great chance to pick former constitutional court chairman Mahfud MD as his running mate in the July 9 presidential poll, a political observer said. "He has a great chance to do so, the more so because Mahfud has received support from Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) clergymen," Muhammad AS Hikam said. He was commenting on the latest political development particularly after the Islam-based United Development Party (PPP) has thrown its weight behind Prabowo's presidential candidacy. Hikam, who is also former state minister for research and technology said chief of the PPP's shariah council KH Maimun Zubair who is also NU clergyman had long supported Mahfud to run for presidency or vice presidency. Mahfud's chance to pair with Prabowo also depended on the political stand of other political parties, such as the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the National Mandate Party (PAN) which will form a coalition with the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party to nominate Prabowo as presidential candidate, he said. "So it's just the other parties. I think it will be okay if they are ready to put aside their ego without nominating their own candidates and to accept the Prabowo-Mahfud MD pair up," he said. He said Mahfud MD had higher electability than that of party leaders who had stated to form a coalition with Gerindra. "I think Mahfud MD is the suited figure to increase votes," he said. Hikam predicted the competition in the presidential poll would become tougher if Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDIP) presidential candidate Joko Widodo would pick former vice president Jusuf Kalla as his running mate. "If Prabowo pairs with Mahfud MD, the competition will become fiercer in view of great supports from NU clergymen and members. And if Joko Widodo picks up Jusuf Kalla this will be his mistake before contesting in the poll," he said. (*) Reporting by Budi Setiawanto