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PDI-P intensifies communication with other parties
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Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri speaks to two of the party's deputy chairmen, Djarot Saiful Hidayat (right) and Andreas Pareira (center), on the sidelines of an event in Jakarta. ( Kompas.com/Indra Akuntono)
T
he Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has not yet made a decision regarding its candidate for the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election, saying that it is still intensely communicating with other political parties.
"The party will observe the political dynamics in August before declaring its gubernatorial candidate,” PDI-P deputy chairman for organization, regeneration, and membership affairs Djarot Saiful Hidayat said in Jakarta on Tuesday.
On Monday, representatives of the Hanura Party met with PDI-P leaders to invite the largest party in the city to support incumbent governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, who has already received endorsement from the Hanura Party, NasDem Party and Golkar Party.
“Our principle is to strengthen the political party’s role [in the country’s politics] by communicating with other political parties such as Hanura, Gerindra and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS)," Djarot, who is also Jakarta deputy governor, said. He added that the PDI-P was scheduled to have a meeting with the National Awakening Party (PKB) on Tuesday.
As the largest party, with 28 seats on the City Council, the PDI-P is the only party that could nominate a candidate without forming a coalition with other parties.
Djarot said that the PDI-P was not in a hurry to declare its gubernatorial candidate. “The General Election Commission’s (KPU) registration period for candidates is from Sept. 19 to 21. Therefore, the PDI-P still has enough time before it must declare a candidate,” Djarot said.
Within the PDI-P, there are factions that support Ahok’s nomination and those who prefer someone from within the party’s ranks, such as Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini. It is believed that PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri will have the final say about the party’s candidate. (bbn)
