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Muhaimin claims Jokowi wants him for VP position
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Members of Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama join a declaration event supporting Muhaimin Iskandar as a vice president for the 2019 presidential election in Bahrul Hidayah Islamic boarding school in Banyuwangi, East Java, on Feb, 17. (Antara/Budi Candra Setya)
N
ational Awakening Party (PKB) chairman Muhaimin Iskandar feels confident that his name will come out as the top choice for President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s running mate in the 2019 presidential election.
“I am still certain that Pak Jokowi will ask me [to become his running mate],” Muhaimin said at the House of Representatives complex on Tuesday.
The former minister during Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's presidency has started a personal campaign in order to elevate his public popularity, as he and the PKB eyed the vice presidential post. The campaign ranged from putting up posters and making visits to regions across the country to meeting face-to-face with people.
Muhaimin also said the PKB was comfortable being among the coalition parties supporting Jokowi, despite reports that he had made several maneuvers toward opposition parties. The PKB, as a party in the ruling coalition, had not yet made a declaration endorsing Jokowi’s re-election along with the National Mandate Party (PAN), which had shown signs of joining Gerindra and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) in the opposition camp. Other parties in the coalition, namely the United Development Party (PPP), Hanura, NasDem, Golkar and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), had thrown their weight behind Jokowi for next year’s elections.
“Many new coalitions asked me to join them to provide alternatives. My answer to them is we need to pray for each other and be patient,” he continued.
Political parties and figures have started their maneuvering ahead of the presidential and the legislative elections, which will be held concurrently next year as the General Elections Commission (KPU) will officially open registration for president and vice president candidates in August. (kuk/rin)
