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Jokowi’s coalition begins discussing key programs for 2019 campaign
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(Courtesy of the Presidential Palace/Agus Suparto)
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span roboto="" style="display: inline !important; float: none; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(49, 53, 52); font-family: ">The political parties forming a coalition to back President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's reelection bid have presumably sealed their political deals and moved forward with drafting a campaign strategy for the 2019 presidential election.
Although Jokowi has yet to announce his running mate, the secretary-generals of nine political parties supporting the incumbent's candidacy have started mulling over technical details, including key programs, called the second Nawacita (nine-point development agenda) to ensure the incumbent's successful reelection next year.
Dressed comfortably in colorful polo shirts that represent the signature colors of each party, the nine secretary-generals sat down for a dinner meeting with Jokowi on Tuesday evening in Bogor Botanical Garden, West Java, which was described as warm and cordial by the party executives.
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto revealed that the meeting discussed the draft of Jokowi's key development programs for his second term as well as the establishment of a presidential campaign team.
"After this meeting, we will convene in another discussion to talk about the technical details of strategic aspects that must be prepared", Hasto said after the meeting.
The coalition backing Jokowi's reelection represented a combined 62 percent of seats in the House of Representatives, which would be effective in supporting Jokowi's second term, including in boosting economic development, Hasto said.
Golkar Party secretary-general Lodewijk Freidrich Paulus said the political parties would further discuss the strategy to challenge the opposition coalition.
"When we are talking about strategy, of course we have to understand our own strengths and the opposition's," Lodewijk said.
Political expert Muhammad Qodari from Jakarta-based pollster Indo Barometer said it was necessary for Jokowi to plan his campaign even earlier.
Given his position as the incumbent, Jokowi faced a heavy task since he had to synchronize his own 2014 presidential campaign promises with his administration's performance before going forward to draft his development programs for his second term, he said.
"The hardest part for Jokowi is to compare his [2014] campaign promises, which cover various aspects in the country's development with his administration's achievements over the last four years," Qodari said.
Nawacita was a nine-point development agenda introduced by Jokowi and Vice President Jusuf Kalla's administration during the 2014 presidential campaign. Among the key points included the settlement of past human rights abuses and corruption eradication. (swd)
