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Ganjar, Mahfud register for presidential election
The second of three candidates vying to succeed President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo after nearly a decade in power officially registered with the General Elections Commission (KPU) on Thursday.
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Ganjar Pranowo (left), presidential candidate of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDI-P), and his running mate, Mohammad Mahfud Mahmodin, Indonesian chief security minister, known as Mahfud MD, pose for photographs after registering themselves, at the election commission headquarters in Jakarta, October 19, 2023. (Reuters/Willy Kurniawan)
Former Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo and running mate Mahfud MD registered their candidacy for next year’s presidential election with the poll body in Jakarta on Thursday, a day after parties backing Ganjar’s bid announced their pick of running mate.
Ganjar of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) figure Mahfud arrived at the General Elections Commission (KPU) at around 12.30 p.m., accompanied by party leaders in the PDI-P-led camp. This included PDI-P’s Megawati Soekarnoputri, Muslim-based United Development Party’s (PPP) Mardiono, Hanura’s Oesman Sapta Odang and Perindo’s Hary Tanoesoedibjo.
“We want to build Indonesia in a faster way. We will continue and improve existing programs of the government [of President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo],” Ganjar said. “Among our focuses are energy transition, the downstreaming of industries, food security and clean governance.”
The pair are scheduled to undergo medical checkups at the Gatot Subroto Army Hospital in Jakarta on Sunday, said KPU chair Hasyim Asy’ari.
Ganjar and Mahfud are the second registered pairing after former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan and running mate Muhaimin Iskandar of the National Awakening Party (PKB), who is affiliated with the NU, registered their bid with the KPU earlier on Thursday.
The Ganjar-Mahfud pair runs on a platform of equality, welfare, justice and anticorruption. Unlike the Anies-Muhaimin pairing, the Ganjar camp has been campaigning that he will continue the programs of President Jokowi.
