Junior PD member warns seniors over First Lady’s suggested candidacy

Human rights activist turned politician Rachland Nashidik warned his seniors at the Democratic Party not to continue making public statements that First Lady Ani Yudhoyono had been named one of the party’s presidential nominees for the upcoming 2014 Presidential Election.

“I need to highlight that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the party’s chief patron, has remained consistent not to nominate any of his family members as a presidential candidate,” Rachland said in a statement made available to The Jakarta Post on Monday.

“All Democratic Party members are obliged to follow this through and stop making counterproductive statements that would wrongly lead the public to suggestions about a political dynasty.”

A number of party members, including seniors such as lawmaker Ruhut Sitompul and party ethics council secretary TB Silalahi, have suggested that the party had begun considering the nomination of Ani for president in 2014.

Silalahi even said Yudhoyono had received 10 names of prospective presidential candidates, including the First Lady.

“There are indeed 10 names, but they were derived from a survey about the public’s most recognized leadership figures based on their likeability and electability. The resulting names, however, do not reflect the party’s stance,” Rachland said.

Rachland left Imparsial, a prominent human rights group, and joined the party in 2010. He now serves as the secretary of the party’s human rights division. (nvn)