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Ruling party PDI-P starts three-day strategic gathering, eyes set on 2019 elections
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President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo chats with Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwomen Megawati Soekarnoputri following the installment of state officials at the State Palace in Jakarta on Jan. 17. Jokowi will attend the PDI-P's three-day national meeting in Denpasar, Bali, which starts Friday. (Antara/Puspa Perwitasari)
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he ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has kicked off a three-day national meeting in Denpasar, Bali, to discuss strategies ahead of the upcoming general elections as well as the 2019 legislative and presidential elections.
The closed-door national meeting brought together all leaders in charge of PDI-P’s offices throughout the country, including chairwomen Megawati Soekarnoputri and President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, to design strategies to secure the ruling party's leadership in the country’s political arena after 2019.
“We want all party cadres to have one vision. We will develop strategies [to win the upcoming elections],” head of the steering committee Sukur Nababan said Friday.
He elaborated that the discussions would focus on PDI-P’s preparation to endorse its presidential and vice presidential candidates as well as necessary measures to maintain its support throughout the country and attract new voters.
PDI-P is all also expected to announce its endorsement of Jokowi in his campaign to win a second presidential term. The announcement will likely come at the end of the three-day gathering on Sunday.
“We will reveal our political stance [in regard to the presidential and vice presidential tickets] during the closing of the meeting,” said PDI-P secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto.
Hasto refused to discuss details when asked for further comment, saying that the authority to determine the fate of the matter was fully in the hands of Megawati.
Four political parties have already officially declared support for Jokowi's campaign including the Golkar Party, the National Awakening Party (PKB), the United Development Party (PPP) and the NasDem Party. (dmr)
