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aving been accused of being anti-Islamic by his detractors, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo may be forced to pick a running mate that can improve his image and electability among Muslim communities ahead of the 2019 presidential election.

Jokowi has been a target of religion-related allegations, including rumors about having a non-Muslim lineage and pro-secular stance, since he first campaigned for president in 2014.

United Development Party (PPP) chairman Romahurmuziy sought to address this problem at the party’s Ulema National Working Meeting (Munas) in Semarang, Central Java, on Friday.

“Pak Jokowi is still often portrayed as a leader who is pro-China, communist and anti-Islam,” he said. “What matters now is how we can counter such hate speech and give support [to Jokowi].”

As one of the party’s that has declared support for Jokowi’s re-election bid, it is a priority of PPP to counter smear campaigns against the President, which have intensified after last year’s contentious Jakarta gubernatorial election, when his party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), backed Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, a Christian of Chinese descent, who is currently serving a prison sentence for blasphemy.

During the Munas, Romahurmuziy read out the specific criteria the party required of a vice presidential candidate, as set by the party’s ulemas. President Jokowi’s running mate must be young, have integrity, be able to act in a manner of a santri (Islamic boarding school student), have the spirit of an ulema and be caring toward ordinary people.

As the head of an Islam-based party who is still young, Romahurmuziy, 43, is said to be among the candidates who meet the criteria. However, he has denied having any intentions to compete for the vice presidential position.

“The PPP is not pushing any specific names,” he said.

The question of who Jokowi will pick as his running mate for the 2019 contest has been a hot topic of debate over the last few months, especially after he announced his intention to seek reelection.

National Awakening Party (PKB) chairman Muhaimin Iskandar has been one of the most commonly mentioned names, not least because he has been aggressively promoting himself for the position.

Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting program director Sirajuddin Abbas said one of Muhaimin’s greatest advantages as a vice presidential candidate was his position as PKB chairman.

PKB is closely affiliated with Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), an Islamic mass organization that has over 60 million members, making it the largest such organization in Indonesia and the world.

“He is the leader of the largest Islam-based political party in Indonesia,” Sirajuddin told The Jakarta Post on Sunday. “Whatever the case is, Jokowi and his [governing] coalition needs the support of the PKB and NU if the country is to stay united.”

However, Sirajuddin said that other parties backing Jokowi, particularly PDI-P, would be reluctant to accept a young VP candidate from outside their own ranks.

“It would be like giving a blank check to Cak Imin to run for president in 2024,” he said, using Muhaimin’s nickname.

Hence, for this reason, Sirajuddin did not immediately dismiss the idea of opposition leader and Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto joining forces with Jokowi in 2019.

During the Munas, Romahurmuziy told journalists that Prabowo had discussed the possibility of becoming Jokowi’s running mate late last year and had sent emissaries to continue to sound out the proposition as recently as two weeks ago.

Gerindra deputy secretary-general Andre Rosiade vehemently denied the claim, however, saying it was a “hoax”.

“There were no emissaries in March,” he told the Post on Sunday. “The last time the matter was discussed was in 2017 when Prabowo was offered the slot, and he has repeatedly declined it.”

Sirajuddin said Prabowo was a desirable running mate because a Jokowi-Prabowo ticket could avoid the acrimony of the 2014 elections and ensure national stability.

“The basis of this idea is, such a partnership could put an end to Prabowo’s political generation as he is unlikely to run again in 2024,” he said.