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Gerindra still in discussion over candidates as registration deadline draws near
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Gerindra's chief patron, Prabowo Subianto, speaks to journalists after a meeting between Gerindra and PKS top officials in his house in South Jakarta on Sept. 22. The party and the Kinship Coalition must decide on a running mate for Gerindra's Sandiaga Uno for the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election. (JP/Callistasia Anggun Wijaya)
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o final decision has been made by the Gerindra Party on who will be the running mate for its candidate Sandiaga Uno in the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election, the party's chief patron Prabowo Subianto said on Thursday.
"We are still in discussion to find the best possibilities. We want a successful democracy and a good life for the residents," he said at his house in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, where he held a meeting with his party members along with top officials from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).
Friday is the last day for candidates to register at the General Election Commission for the 2017 regional elections.
Despite a previous announcement that Sandiaga would run with PKS politician Mardani, earlier on Thursday Sandiaga claimed that former education and cultural minister Anies Baswedan had agreed to team up with him in the election. When asked for confirmation about Sandiaga's pairing, Prabowo refused to give details.
Separately, former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono also lead a meeting in his house in Cikeas, West Java, where he invited officials from his own Democratic Party and other members of the Kinship Coalition, namely the United Development Party (PPP), the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the National Mandate Party (PAN). The meeting was held to discuss possible challengers for the incumbents, Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama and Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat.
Democratic Party secretary-general Hinca Pandjaitan said the four parties would make a decision about whether to nominate their own candidates or stick with Gerindra and PKS.
Gerindra politician Muhammad Taufik, however, denied the separate meetings meant there was a split in the coalition.
He said the coalition would not make a declaration but would register at the Jakarta office of the General Election Commission on Friday. (rin)
