Jakarta (ANTARA News) - A senior politician from the Golkar Party, Fahmi Idris, is predicting that 60 percent of the party cadres will support Jusuf Kalla in the presidential election on July 9.

"I estimate finally 60 percent of Golkar members will support the Jokowi-JK (Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla) pair. Golkar is strong in regions (not in Jakarta). Aburizal Bakrie must be aware of this," he said on the sidelines of a declaration of Black, Green Nusantara Pro-Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla supporters here on Friday.

Golkar Party general chairman Aburizal Bakrie has directed all party cadres to support the Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa duo.

Fahmis statement came after a number of Golkar cadres led by young cadres had decided to support the Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla pair instead, against the party chiefs orders.

Fahmi Idris, who is also one of a number of Golkar cadres who has defied the party chiefs direction, said these young cadres decision had the potential to bring Golkar wagons along with them.

"They will bring along with them long links of wagons and the executive board knows it, and therefore they are angry," he said.

He said Prabowo once said that Golkar will be the determining factor for his victory in the election this year, but he did not really know the Golkar Party grassroots.

"He does not know them. I have been in Golkar for a long time and so I know how to win in Golkar bases in regions," he added.

The Golkar Party has recently decided to remove some of its cadres from positions in the parliament due to their decision to support Jokowi.

"I am sure they will only be replaced and will not be fired like before, because Golkar executive board members now seem to be smarter," he said. (*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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