PDIP to name Joko Widodo as governor candidate

Joko Widodo: Surakarta mayor and Jakarta governor candidate from Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP). Tempo/Jacky Rachmansyah

Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) secretary-general Tjahjo Kumolo has announced the party decision to name Surakarta mayor Joko Widodo as its governor candidate at the upcoming elections. Regarding who should be named as Joko’s partner, Tjahjo said they would announce it tomorrow.

“We will discuss who is the perfect figure that should partner with Joko before we register the names to the local elections commission (KPUD) tomorrow,” Tjahjo said as quoted by tempo.co.

PDIP, Tjahjo said, would partner with the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party and several other parties in supporting the candidates.

Gerindra chief patron Prabowo Subianto had earlier proposed that Joko Widodo, widely known as Jokowi, should be partnered with Basuki Tjahja Purnama, widely known as Ahok, a Golkar Party legislator who was previously a regent in Belitung island.

Prabowo said the sole reason behind his decision to back up he Jokowi and Ahok ticket was simply their integrity. (dic)