Prabowo, Titiek should get back together

Prabowo, Titiek should get back together The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | National | Mon, May 26 2014, 8:35 AM National News SBY to appoint new minister to replace Suryadharma Religion affairs minister quits over pilgrimage graft Wawan faces 10 years in prison for graft The prospect of not having a first lady if Gerindra Party chief patron Prabowo Subianto wins the presidency in July has prompted the women’s wing of the National Mandate Party (PAN), also known as PUAN, to try to reunite the former general with his former wife, Siti Hediati Haryadi, popularly known as Titiek Soeharto. PAN is now chaired by Hatta Rajasa, Prabowo’s running mate in the presidential race. “As a wing organization of PAN supporting the Prabowo-Hatta ticket, we’re ready to reunite Pak Prabowo and Ibu Titiek. I think there’s nothing wrong with that,” PUAN chairperson Erwina Yunarti said as quoted by Antara news agency on Friday. Erwina made the statement in response to a question on who would become first lady if Prabowo, who has yet to remarry, was elected. The former Army’s Special Forces (Kopassus) commander was once married to Titiek, the daughter of former president Soeharto, who ruled Indonesia for more than 30 years. They have a son, Didit Hediprasetyo, who is a fashion designer residing in Paris. “This is for our nation. I have spoken to Ibu Titiek. She only smiled,” Erwina said, adding that she had not talked to Prabowo about her intention but she was upbeat about accomplishing her mission. Titiek is now an elected legislator of the Golkar Party, the nation’s second largest party that is also supporting Prabowo’s presidential bid. When asked by reporters if she was ready to become first lady, Titiek said: “No. I was elected as a member of the House of Representatives.” She said her relationship with Prabowo had always been amicable and that her support for his presidential bid should not be interpreted as a sign they were getting back together. “We’re like friends, or brother and sister. Nothing more,” she said. Prabowo’s Gerindra has formed a coalition of political parties to endorse his candidacy in the July 9 presidential election. They are Gerindra, PAN, Golkar, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the United Development Party (PPP) and the Crescent Star Party (PBB). His rival, Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, is endorsed by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the NasDem Party, the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the Hanura Party. Jokowi is married to Iriana and has three children: Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Kahiyang Ayu and Kaesang Pangarep While various surveys say Jokowi is still more electable than Prabowo, the latter has been seen as being more aggressive in rallying support for his bid following his official nomination. On Friday night, Prabowo appeared in the grand final of Indonesian Idol 2014 where he presented a bouquet of flowers to the winner of the competition along with MNC Group owner Hary Tanoesoedibjo, who has endorsed Prabowo.

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