Following political parties that have announced some of their candidates running in the 2018 regional elections, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has also officially announced candidates for four provinces, as they gear up to claim victory in next year’s elections.

Seventeen provinces will hold the concurrent regional elections in June, and the ruling party has warmed itself up by announcing its candidates.

On Sunday, party chairwoman Megawati Sukarnoputri announced the candidate pairs running for the gubernatorial posts in Riau, Southeast Sulawesi, Maluku and East Nusa Tenggara.

PDI-P is supporting incumbent Riau Governor Arsyadjuliandi Rachman where the party will form a coalition with the Golkar Party because the governor is a Golkar cadre. Asyadjuliandi will run with PDI-P cadre Suyatno, the regent of Rokan Hilir.

The PDI-P is not eligible to name a candidate without a coalition partner as it only has nine seats in the Riau Council, less than the 13 required for a party to field a candidate without a coalition partner. Golkar, on the other hand, has 14 seats.

For Southeast Sulawesi, the party supported Kendari Mayor Asrun, who is a member of the National Mandate Party (PAN), in partnership with Hugua, a PDI-P member and the Wakatobi regent. In Maluku, the PDI-P decided on Insp. Gen. Murad Ismail, the former head of the National Police’s Mobile Brigade who will take early retirement next year in his bid to join the elections. He will be running with West Maluku Regent Barnabas Orno.

Meanwhile, in East Nusa Tenggara, the PDI-P chose Marinus Sae and Emilia J. Nomleni as their governor and deputy governor candidates. Marinus is the regent of Ngada and is a former member of PAN. Emilia is a PDI-P member and was an East Nusa Tenggara councilor from 2009 to 2014.

“Hopefully the chosen candidates can bring blessings from God and advancement to the regions,” Megawati said at the party’s headquarters in Jakarta.

PDI-P secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto said the party was optimistic about the candidates, claiming that all of them are competent and have the quality to lead the regions. This came after the October announcement that East Java Deputy Governor Syaifullah Yusuf and Banyuwangi Regent Azwar Anas would run for the province’s top posts.

The remaining candidates for the 12 provinces will be announced in January, days before the General Elections Commission opens registration for candidates on Jan. 8 to 10.

“For us, the 2018 regional elections are the momentum for the party to consolidate our strengths to also succeed at the 2019 legislative and presidential elections,” Hasto said.

Golkar is supporting Social Affairs Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa and Trenggalek Regent Emil Dardak for the upcoming elections. The party had also joined hands with the Nasdem party and touted Viktor Laiskodat and running mate Yoseph Nai Sos to run for the 2018 regional elections, East Nusa Tenggara Golkar chairman Melki Laka Lena said.

It previously announced its support for Bandung Mayor Ridwan Kamil but in light of the graft case against its chairman Setya Novanto, the party decided to withdraw its support for Ridwan in his bid to be governor of West Java in a letter signed on Sunday.

“It is true, we have issued the letter,” said deputy secretary-general Ace Hasan Syadizly.

Meanwhile, the Gerindra Party announced that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s former energy minister, Sudirman Said, would run in the Central Java elections. Esthon Foenay and Christ Rotok are set to compete in the East Nusa Tenggara elections.

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