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‘I am in Jakarta’ says Anies on presidential race
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Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan during an interview with 'The Jakarta Post' at City Hall on March 14. (JP/Wienda Parwitasari)
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akarta Governor Anies Baswedan’s name has been frequently mentioned as a potential candidate in the 2019 presidential election, however Anies said on Wednesday that no political parties had asked him to become a vice presidential candidate.
“Anyway, now I am in Jakarta. Insya Allah [God willing], in Jakarta,” Anies said on Wednesday, as quoted by kompas.com.
Anies said several political parties, including the Gerindra Party, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the National Mandate Party (PAN), which backed him during the gubernatorial election last year, had already named presidential candidates.
“If the offer [to become a vice president candidate] comes, I will think about it and give my answer,” Anies said.
Anies met with PAN leader Zulkifli Hasan on July 5, a meeting which some believed was related to the election.
However, Anies denied the rumor, saying he met with Zulkifli in his capacity as speaker of the Peoples Consultative Assembly (MPR), and that they talked about the Jakarta Bay reclamation.
He added he was close with several figures, such as Vice President Jusuf Kalla and Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto, but that it did not indicate he would run in the election. (cal)
