That the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) would name President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo as its candidate for the 2019 presidential election was a foregone conclusion for many.

However, the party’s decision to officially declare its support for the President, a long-time PDI-P member, during its national meeting in Denpasar, Bali, on Friday, has left more questions than answers over who Jokowi will choose as his running mate.

The PDI-P, like other parties backing Jokowi’s candidacy, has sought to pair the former Jakarta governor with its own picks, with Puan Maharani, the daughter of chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, and Gen. Budi Gunawan, widely known as one of Megawati’s closest allies, said to be the strongest candidates.

But Jokowi told reporters shortly after receiving the PDI-P’s endorsement that he has yet to make a decision regarding his running mate, saying he would discuss it with leaders of the political parties that preceded the PDI-P in declaring support for him.

“I have met [some of the party leaders]. I will meet some more. I will continue to meet them. [We] will definitely achieve [an agreement] in the end,” Jokowi told reporters after attending the party’s meeting in Denpasar.

Jokowi had previously secured the support of four major parties: the Golkar Party, the United Development Party (PPP), the Hanura Party and the NasDem Party.

Some Golkar politicians have called on the party to propose chairman Airlangga Hartarto as Jokowi’s running mate. Hanura chairman Oesman Sapta Odang, meanwhile, has long been pushing for the nomination of Hanura founder Wiranto, now serving as Jokowi’s chief security minister, as a vice presidential candidate.

The National Awakening Party (PKB), a member of the progovernment coalition, has offered its leader, Muhaimin “Cak Imin” Iskandar, to be Jokowi’s running mate, even though the Muslim-based party has yet to officially declare its support for Jokowi .

In a rare move, Muhaimin has put up banners and billboards in major cities across the country in a bid to win public support for his vice-presidential candidacy.

Unlike other parties, PDI-P officials have refused to reveal names when asked about the party’s potential nominees. Such a strategic decision, they said, lies in the hands of Megawati.

However, sources within the party who requested anonymity said Megawati was considering proposing her daughter, Puan, and close friend, Budi. Puan currently serves as coordinating human development and culture minister in Jokowi’s Working Cabinet, while Budi is leading the nation’s spy agency.

As parties compete for the second-highest job in the country, speculation is rife that Jokowi is considering running with Vice President Jusuf Kalla for the second time to avoid upsetting some of the parties that support him.

Such a move, however, would likely spark controversy as Kalla has served as vice president twice, and is therefore constitutionally barred from seeking a third term.

Nonetheless, some politicians have said they are open to such a possibility, arguing that Article 7 of the Constitution banning a president and vice president from contending the election after serving for two periods could be interpreted differently.

They argued that Kalla, who served as vice president between 2004 and 2009, did not serve the two periods consecutively.

In a recent interview with the Post, House of Representatives Speaker Bambang Soesatyo said the House would consult the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court regarding the interpretation of the article.

“The House’s Legislative Body will focus on reviewing [the article] in order to seek the best interpretation. This is needed to settle public debate,” said Bambang, a Golkar politician.

Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) political analyst Arya Fernandes said Jokowi would need to secure Megawati’s approval of his choice of running mate if he wished to keep the PDI-P’s support. But Jokowi, he said, must also consider his electability when choosing a running mate and may decide to ignore Megawati’s demand.

“If the PDI-P insists on a [running mate] with whom Jokowi is not comfortable, it’s possible that he may decide to leave the party, since he has already secured a ticket [to run in the election] with Golkar, Hanura, Nasdem and the PPP,” Arya told the Post.

Popular

Volcano erupts in North Sulawesi, hundreds evacuated

Dubai roads, airport reel from floods after record rains

Ramadan boosts consumer confidence, retail sales