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NasDem confirms inviting Anies to congress, denies rumors over 2024 race
While the NasDem Party has confirmed inviting Anies as a speaker to its national congress, it has denied speculation that it is touting the Jakarta governor as its 2024 presidential candidate.
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Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan (left) and NasDem Party chairman Surya Paloh speak to reporters on Wednesday at the NasDem headquarters in Central Jakarta. (kompas.com/Ryana Aryadita Umasugi)
T
he NasDem Party of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo’s ruling coalition is holding a national congress in Jakarta on Nov. 8 to 11, when it intends to lay out its plans for the 2024 presidential election.
The party has reportedly invited several regional heads to the event, including Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, a move that has spurred speculation that Nasdem is leaning toward supporting Anies as a potential presidential candidate in 2024.
NasDem executive Willy Aditya confirmed on Saturday that the party had sent an invitation to Anies, who was scheduled to speak at the congress.
“Anies will give a speech and a welcome greeting as the Jakarta Governor to the congress participants, who will be coming from Sabang to Merauke," said Willy. He added that the congress would be held at the Jakarta International Expo (JIExpo) in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.
Willy denied, however, that the party was attempting to approach Anies on a potential presidential bid by inviting him to the congress.
Earlier in July, following a meeting with Anies at the party's Central Jakarta.headquarters, NasDem chairman and media mogul Surya Paloj saidthat the party was open to the possibility of backing the Jakarta governor for the 2024 presidential race. However, he said that he needed the support of additional political parties to realize the plan.
Willy said the party had also invited East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa as well as several other regional heads that NasDem had supported in the regional elections.
