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Anies meets party leaders after announcing presidential bid
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Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan (left) and his deputy Ahmad Riza Patria (right) pose for photographers on Sept. 13, 2022 after attending a plenary session at the Jakarta City Council. The session formally declared the end of the governor and deputy governor’s terms in October. (Antara/Indrianto Eko Suwarso)
A picture of Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, posing together with leaders of three political parties that have expressed their interest in nominating him as a presidential candidate, has sparked speculation about the impending establishment of a political axis to challenge the pro-government candidate in the 2024 presidential race.
The picture, uploaded on Twitter by Democratic Party deputy secretary-general Andi Arief, was taken at a wedding reception for Fajrina Kharizia, daughter of NasDem politician Sugeng Suparwoto, which was held at the InterContinental Pondok Indah hotel in South Jakarta on Sunday. Former vice president Jusuf Kalla, a close ally of Anies, was also featured in the photo.
It was the first time that Anies and the three party leaders — Surya Paloh of the NasDem Party, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono of the Democratic Party and Ahmad Syaikhu of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) — had met since the former announced his willingness to run for president if nominated by a political party.
‘Light talks’
Both Anies and the parties have downplayed the importance of the meeting despite analysts saying that the gesture indicates that Anies may be inching closer to getting a presidential ticket for 2024.
Speaking to The Jakarta Post, Democrat spokesman Herzaky Mahendra said that the meeting was coincidental and informal. “There was mention of politics, and of the Democrat’s [national leadership meeting], but the talks were mostly light as we have another forum for more formal talks”, said Herzaky.
When asked about a potential coalition with the NasDems and the PKS, Herzaky said that there was already a mutual understanding between the three parties, and whether it led to a formal agreement among them was just a matter of time.
