A number of political parties and presidential candidates set to compete in the 2019 general elections are talking intensively about possible vice presidential candidate picks.
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Kompas/Nina Susilo
President Joko Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla walk out of the vice presidential room on Tuesday (6/2).
JAKARTA, KOMPAS – A number of political parties and presidential candidates set to compete in the 2019 general elections are talking intensively about possible vice presidential candidate picks. Last-minute decisions are expected.
A number of political parties have announced their presidential candidates for the 2019 election. However, it is expected that they will not announce their vice presidential candidates before the presidential election registration period opens from August 4-10, 2018.
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s internal team are reportedly still working on establishing criteria for his running mate for his reelection bid.
Five political parties have stated they would support his reelection bid in the 2019 election. These five parties are the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), the Golkar Party, the United Development Party (PPP), the NasDem Party and the People’s Conscience Party (Hanura). These five parties control 290 out of 560 House of Representatives seats, or 51.78 percent of seats.
Meanwhile, the Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) is also intensifying its talks with four other parties that have yet to express their support for Jokowi in the 2019 election. These four parties are the Democratic Party, the National Awakening Party (PKB), the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the National Mandate Party (PAN).
In addition to reaffirming the plan to support Gerindra chairman Prabowo Subianto’s candidacy in next year’s presidential elections, the talks have also discussed Prabowo’s possible running mates.
Discussion
President Jokowi said the discussions of his internal team had thus far yet to mention any possible names of running mates. “We are still talking about the criteria for the person and not yet about the person,” the President said in Cikarang, West Java, on Tuesday (27/2/2018).
Non-active PDIP executive Puan Maharani said there were many considerations to determining the criteria for Jokowi’s running mate. Other than having a vision of protecting the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, Jokowi’s running mate must also share his vision and mission. “The goal is to solve national problems ahead. Hopefully, the 2019-2024 leadership will be even better than the current one,” she said.
Puan said the party would be open to figures both from within and outside the party. The number of figures being discussed has also changed over time. “Sometimes we have five names, sometimes 10. Sometimes it becomes just two. There is also the possibility that names not discussed right now may emerge,” she said.
Puan said the names of Jokowi’s possible running mates would be made clear before the Idul Fitri Islamic holiday, which will fall at the end of June this year.
PDIP deputy secretary general Ahmad Basarah said he predicted that Jokowi’s running mate would be determined and announced just prior to the candidate registration period. “We need to see the dynamics of communication and coalition-building between parties,” he said, adding that only Jokowi and PDIP chair Megawati Soekarnoputri would know who the right running mate for Jokowi was.
Kompas/Wisnu Widiantoro
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Not soon
Gerindra deputy secretary general Andre Rosiade said the party would not announce its presidential and vice presidential candidates any time soon. However, this did not mean there was any doubt within the party over supporting Prabowo’s candidacy. All party members have agreed to support Prabowo.
Gerindra is said to be delaying the announcement of its presidential candidate in an attempt to build communication with four other parties that have yet to voice their support for Jokowi in the 2019 elections.
“Thus far, we have allied with PKS and our coalition with PKS is eligible to support Prabowo in 2019. However, to strengthen Prabowo’s electability, we will continue to build communication with PKB, PAN and the Democratic Party so they will join our coalition to support Prabowo in 2019,” Andre explained.
PKS executive Ledia Hanifa Amaliah said her party had been in close communication with Gerindra. However, she refused to confirm whether this communication concerned a coalition for the 2019 elections. “There is still a lot of time before the registration for presidential and vice presidential candidates is opened in August. Until then, political situations may change. No decisions will be made soon,” she said.
PKS is trying to promote one of its own members as either a presidential or vice presidential candidate in the 2019 elections. Therefore, PKS has assigned nine of its most prominent members to promote themselves and build internal support.
These nine PKS members are West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan, party advisory board deputy chairman Hidayat Nur Wahid, former party chair Anis Matta, West Sumatra Governor Irwan Prayitno, party chair M Sohibul Iman, party advisory board chair Slaim Segaf Al’Jufrie, former party chair Tifatul Sembiring and party executives Al Muzzammil Yusuf and Mardani Ali Sera.
PKS is also seeking to strengthen its communication with other parties to build a coalition in the lead up to the 2019 elections. PKS has established a special team for this matter. “The results of the nine members’ campaigns and of the special team’s communication-building with other parties will be reported to the party advisory board. The board will then decide who the party will support as presidential and vice presidential candidates and with whom the party will build a coalition,” Ledia said.
PAN chair Zulkifli Hasan said he had also intensified talks with other political party chairs. Zulkifli said that PAN would use the available time before the presidential and vice presidential candidate registration is opened in August.
“For PAN, we are aware that we have 48 seats in the House of Representatives. Thus, [for the 2019 elections], it is up to the chairman to talk with other political party chairs,” Zulkifli said.
