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With early Anies announcement, NasDems angling for electoral boost in 2024, analysts say
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Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan (left) and NasDem Party chairman Surya Paloh (right) speaking to reporters at the NasDem Party headquarters in Central Jakarta in this undated photo. (kompas.com/Ryana Aryadita Umasugi)
After weeks of speculation, the NasDem Party on Monday officially named outgoing Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan as its 2024 presidential nominee.
The country's fifth-largest political party originally planned the announcement for November, but analysts say the maneuver is designed to give the party a boost for the 2024 legislative election instead.
Chairman Surya Paloh, together with several NasDem politicians and Anies himself, made the announcement at the NasDem headquarters in Jakarta. Positioning the party as the moderate choice, Surya affirmed the party’s commitment to nationalism and inclusivity.
”The future of this nation requires our cooperation, synergy and us working hand-in-hand no matter what our race, religion or backgrounds,” Surya said. The party, he added, appreciated any potential candidates no matter what political party or group they belonged to as long as they were willing and capable of leading the country, leading them to land on Anies, who has consistently ranked among the three most electable potential candidates in many opinion polls.
As one of the early supporters of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, Surya noted that the current administration leaves several legacies that are worth continuing while others are in need of improvements, a claim echoed by Anies. “There’s continuity, and there’s also change. [...] chairman Surya entrusted me with this and insya’Allah [God Willing], it’s a belief we’ll continue to abide by,” Anies said.
Read also: NasDem to name presidential nominee in November
Last week, Willy Aditya, head of NasDem’s central board, revealed that the party planned to have a candidate and coalition partner ready by November. Having only 10 percent of the seats at the House of Representatives, the NasDems must forge a coalition with other parties to reach the 20 percent threshold to be eligible to field a candidate, as required by law.
