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NasDem considers supporting Anies for reelection in Jakarta
The NasDem Party is open to the possibility of supporting former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan for another run in the city after he lost the February presidential election.
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Presidential candidate and former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan (center) greets children on March 22, 2024, during an iftar gathering at the NasDem Tower in Jakarta. (Antara/Indrianto Eko Suwarso)
T
he NasDem Party is open to the possibility of supporting unsuccessful presidential candidate Anies Baswedan for another run in the upcoming gubernatorial election in Jakarta, which remains an important metropolis even though it is losing its status as Indonesia’s capital.
Anies, who is not a member of any political party and has gained new popularity for his sleek presidential campaign, served one term as Jakarta governor from 2017 to 2022, and is eligible for reelection in November. Anies ran for president in February on the ticket of NasDem and its two partners – the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the National Awakening Party (PKB) – and lost the three-horse election to Gerindra Party chair Prabowo Subianto.
NasDem central board senior member Willy Aditya said earlier this week that "the party was ready" to throw its weight behind Anies if he wishes to run for reelection in November. Willy said Anies met with NasDem chairman Surya Paloh to discuss the matter on March 18, however, they had not met since then, Kompas reported.
Anies himself refused to comment on the Jakarta governor race before the Constitutional Court settles the disputes on the presidential election results next week, Kompas reported.
His campaign team spokesman Surya Tjandra said they are currently still focusing on the disputes at the court.
“We will only consider what is the next step [for Anies] after the court hands down the decision,” Tjandra told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
In addition to Anies, NasDem also considered nominating two of its own members: incumbent House of Representatives lawmaker Ahmad Sahroni and incumbent Jakarta councilor Wibi Andrino, according to Willy. But Sahroni and Wibi ran for reelection to the House and the Jakarta city council in the February legislative race and are now thought likely to be awarded seats after winning the most and second most votes of any NasDem candidate in their respective elections.
