Political parties have spared no effort in supporting their lofty electoral ambitions for next year, nominating Cabinet members, incumbents and even some notable newcomers for the 2024 legislative election before the close of the registration period on Sunday.

Nine major parties that currently hold seats in the House of Representatives, some parties not represented in the legislature and new arrivals all registered candidates with the General Elections Commission (KPU) by the deadline.

Besides naming popular figures from across the cultural spectrum as candidates to attract votes, major parties are also relying on incumbents and Cabinet members for their experience, predictability and perceived edge in winning or holding onto seats.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), which currently holds 128 House seats, the most of any party, for instance, is nominating Law and Human Rights Minister Yassona Laoly for the House. While Yasonna has been one of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s longest-serving Cabinet members, the North Sumatran politician’s career as a legislator stretches back to 2004.

Yasonna will be joined by incumbent House speaker Puan Maharani, who made history as the first woman to lead the House in Indonesia and who is the heir apparent of the PDI-P. Puan is reportedly vying for a House seat representing Central Java, one of the strongholds of the ruling party.

Read also: PDI-P, NasDem name legislative candidates, with several incumbents, ministers on list

The NasDem Party and the National Awakening Party (PKB) have signed up two Cabinet members each: Communications and Information Minister Johny G. Plate and Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo for NasDem; and Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Minister Abdul Halim Iskandar and Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah for the PKB.

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