Mahfud MD Accepts Offer to Lead Prabowo's Presidential Election Campaign

Jakarta (Antara) - Former Chairman of Constitutional Court Mahfud MD acknowledged being asked to head Prabowo Subianto's presidential campaign and had accepted the offer. "After seeking opinion from several people, I decided to accept the offer," stated Mahfud, who was previously proposed by the National Awakening Party (PKB) as the potential vice presidential candidate for Jokowi from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), but was eventually left out because PDIP instead chose Golkar's politician, Jusuf Kalla. Despite being on Prabowo's side, Mahfud said he respects both presidential candidates Prabowo Subianto and Jokowi. According to him, both presidential candidates are equally good and rank high on popularity among the masses, which is apparent from the various surveys conducted during the last one year. Mahfud also emphasized that he is still supporting the National Awakening Party (PKB), which had formed a coalition with the PDIP. He reiterated that all citizens have their own political right to choose their future leader. Prabowo and his vice presidential candidate, Hatta Rajasa will compete against Jokowi and Jusuf Kalla in the presidential election scheduled on July 9. (*)