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Parties look to familiar faces for key regional races
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A voter inks her finger on Feb. 14, 2024, after casting her ballot in the 2024 general election in Banjar Teba, Jimbaran, Bali. (AFP/Sonny Tumbelaka)
W
ith legal disputes over the 2024 presidential election behind them, political parties have turned their attention to November's regional elections as they seek candidates to endorse in key provinces, such as Jakarta, West Java, Central Java and East Java.
Several well-known names have made the list of potential contenders in the country’s first simultaneous regional elections. On Nov. 27, Indonesians are set to vote for their governors, mayors and regents at the same time across 37 of the country’s 38 provinces (with Yogyakarta excluded) and more than 500 regencies and cities.
The Islam-based Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), which took the largest share of the vote in Jakarta in the February legislative election, recently said it was considering three of its members to run for governor of the city.
They are former party chairman Mohamad Sohibul Iman, head of the party's Central Executive Board (DPP) Mardani Ali Sera and Jakarta Legislative Council (DPRD) deputy speaker Khoirudin.
"It's not official yet. We will organize a special meeting, including with our [electoral alliance members], to discuss contenders for the regional elections. However, several senior members of the party have suggested those three names," said PKS regional executive board secretary Abdul Azis in Jakarta, as reported by kompas.com.
The PKS is expected to lead an electoral alliance with the NasDem Party and the National Awakening Party (PKB) in the race for Jakarta governor. The three parties previously allied to back former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan’s unsuccessful bid for the presidency this year.
The Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), a self-proclaimed youth party, is planning to nominate its chairman Kaesang Pangarep, son of outgoing President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, as a candidate for governor of Jakarta.
The PSI is also considering endorsing one of its most senior politicians, Grace Natalie, if Kaesang is not eligible, as he is still a few months short of meeting the 30-year age requirement for gubernatorial candidates.
