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Jokowi-Muhaimin fit to lead the country: PKB
It takes two to tango: National Awakening Party (PKB) chairman Muhaimin Iskandar (second right) and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) presidential hopeful Joko "Jokowi" Widodo shake hands before a closed-door meeting at PKB headquarters in Jakarta on Saturday
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It takes two to tango: National Awakening Party (PKB) chairman Muhaimin Iskandar (second right) and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) presidential hopeful Joko "Jokowi" Widodo shake hands before a closed-door meeting at PKB headquarters in Jakarta on Saturday. The parties conducted the meeting following the initial results of the April 9 legislative election, with a PKB official saying that Muhaimin could make a good running mate for Jokowi. (Antara) (PKB) chairman Muhaimin Iskandar (second right) and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) presidential hopeful Joko "Jokowi" Widodo shake hands before a closed-door meeting at PKB headquarters in Jakarta on Saturday. The parties conducted the meeting following the initial results of the April 9 legislative election, with a PKB official saying that Muhaimin could make a good running mate for Jokowi. (Antara)
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span class="inline inline-center">It takes two to tango: National Awakening Party (PKB) chairman Muhaimin Iskandar (second right) and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) presidential hopeful Joko "Jokowi" Widodo shake hands before a closed-door meeting at PKB headquarters in Jakarta on Saturday. The parties conducted the meeting following the initial results of the April 9 legislative election, with a PKB official saying that Muhaimin could make a good running mate for Jokowi. (Antara)
The National Awakening Party (PKB) has said that its chairman, Muhaimin Iskandar, is a suitable choice to become Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo's running mate in the July 9 presidential election.
'Cak Imin is good enough to be Jokowi's vice presidential candidate,' PKB deputy secretary-general Lukmanul Khakim said on Saturday as quoted by Antara, referring to Muhaimin by his nickname.
He added that the PKB had already established good communication with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) to discuss a possible coalition and running mate for Jokowi.
'Insya Allah [God willing], a pairing between Jokowi and Cak Imin will happen,' he said.
Based on a Kompas quick count of more than 99 percent of overall ballots, the PKB secured 9.12 percent in this year's legislative election, far higher than the 4.9 percent it gained in 2009. Meanwhile, the PDI-P won between 18.6 and 19.2 percent of the vote. A coalition of the two parties would, therefore, secure between 27.72 and 28.32 percent.
A party or a coalition of parties need to secure at least 25 percent of the popular vote or 20 percent of seats in the House of Representatives to be eligible to nominate a presidential candidate.
Lukmanul said there was a great deal of support from PKB members for Muhaimin to become Jokowi's running mate.
Previously, Muhaimin had confirmed that the PKB was not in a position to nominate its own presidential candidate, following the release of the quick count results of garnering 9.12
Quick count results show the top three winners in the legislative election were the PDI-P, the Golkar Party and the Gerindra Party, all of which have declared their presidential hopefuls.
Muhaimin said the PKB had undertaken intense discussions with two propesctive presidential candidates from other parties, but he declined to reveal their names.
Prior to the legislative election, the PKB had declared three potential presidential candidates: former vice president Jusuf Kalla, former Constitutional Court chief justice Mahfud MD and the 'king of dangdut', Rhoma Irama. (idb/nvn)
