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Akbar says he is preferred vice-presidential candidate
One of the Golkar Partyâs most senior politicians, Akbar Tanjung, claimed on Sunday he had been named the running mate of a presidential candidate, either the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggleâs (PDI-P) Joko âJokowiâ Widodo or the Gerindra Partyâs Prabowo Subianto
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ne of the Golkar Party's most senior politicians, Akbar Tanjung, claimed on Sunday he had been named the running mate of a presidential candidate, either the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle's (PDI-P) Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo or the Gerindra Party's Prabowo Subianto.
'Today, among all the potential vice presidential candidates discussed, such as [former vice president] Jusuf Kalla and [former Constitutional Court chief justice] Mahfud MD, I heard that Jokowi or Prabowo preferred me. Based on that information, I hereby declare that I am ready to be a vice presidential candidate,' Akbar told a press conference at his house in South Jakarta.
'I think I have the capability to be a vice president given my vast experience in politics, organizations and government,' he said, adding that he had intensified efforts to approach leaders of political parties since the April 9 legislative election.
Akbar is formally the chairman of Golkar's advisory council but he has been known to oppose party chairman Aburizal Bakrie. Akbar was Golkar chairman from 1998 to 2004 and is believed to have huge supports from Golkar member nationwide.
Aburizal, Golkar's official presidential candidate, recently reiterated that the decision on his presidential bid would remain unchanged. However, speculations abound that it is actually Kalla who was picked by the PDI-P to be Jokowi's running mate. Golkar executives have also hinted that the party would shift support to Jokowi for the presidential race.
