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t'€™s official '€” after months of speculation and, undoubtedly, infighting '€” Jakarta Governor Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo has been named by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) as its presidential candidate.

Common sense was clearly a key driver behind this nomination, given that Jokowi'€™s popularity eclipses that of any of his potential contenders in the July presidential election.

But the fact that PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri finally endorsed Jokowi'€™s candidacy and asked the party'€™s rank and file to throw their weight behind the decision, evidences her acknowledgment of the voice of the grass roots. Various surveys conducted over the past year have consistently put Jokowi on top and both Megawati and the PDI-P would have taken this into consideration when announcing the nomination Friday.

There are lessons the country can learn from the PDI-P when it comes to this candidacy. The party, known for its conservative line, has dared to select a potential leader from the young generation. At 52, Jokowi'€™s entry will make a difference among all those old faces.

Many nations, as well as corporations, have experimented with the '€œyoung-on-top'€ phenomenon and succeeded. Indonesia may now be heading along a similar road and if only the PDI-P'€™s rivals follow suit, the upcoming presidential election will turn into a pursuit of dreams, visions and new ideas rather than a battle of ages.

The PDI-P has also reinforced the practice of announcing a definite presidential candidate before the legislative election like other parties have done. For voters such transparency matters as they do not want to buy a cat in the sack.

Early candidacy is not without risks. For Jokowi and the PDI-P the period preceding the presidential election in July will give room to rival parties to exploit his weaknesses, simply because he is the man to beat, at least according to surveys. Such practice is normal in politics and Jokowi, who has announced his acceptance, knows this well.

Those who do not want to see Jokowi win will expect him to compromise his responsibilities as the Jakarta governor for his presidential bid.

Jokowi will have to explain to the voters who elected him Jakarta governor in 2012 the reasons behind his presidential candidacy, but he cannot expect them to understand it, let alone accept it.

However mixed the reactions, for the PDI-P Jokowi'€™s nomination is expected to have an impact. Many have predicted the party'€™s announcement would boost its performance in the legislative election and help it win the most seats in the House of Representatives.

Indeed, the Indonesian stock market composite index rose to a year high and the rupiah strengthened against the greenback just after the nomination was made public, but it is too early to conclude that the market is pro-Jokowi. Nevertheless, we cannot deny the Jokowi effect in Indonesian contemporary politics and hope '€” if not him '€” someone better will win the presidency.