DKI Jakarta Regional Election, PDI-P Considers Risma, Azwar Anas, and Hendrar Prihadi

Chairman of the PDI-P Central Leadership Council (DPP) Djarot Saiful Hidayat said that his party had opened the selection process for regional head candidates since early April. The search was opened at all party offices, both at the branch leadership council (DPC), regional leadership council (DPD) and regional leadership council (DPW) levels. Prospective regional head candidates who have registered are then reported to the DPP to trace their abilities and track records.

"Previously, we have held coordination meetings for regional elections throughout Indonesia, not only for the Jakarta region. So far, we have mapped out the process of selecting potential candidates for regional leaders that have been carried out by the local and regional party organizations. We have also shared the names of internal cadres who are ready to run in the upcoming regional elections," said Djarot when contacted on Thursday (25/4/2024).

According to Djarot, the meeting did not only discuss a number of cadres who will participate in the upcoming regional elections, but also mapped out strengths in each region. Because in several areas, the PDI-P cannot stand alone in fielding candidates for regional head positions and must form a coalition with other parties. The meeting also discussed a list of the names of incumbent regional heads who will be supported by the PDI-P again.

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"After we mapped it out, it turns out that there are quite a number of incumbent regional heads from PDI-P that we will support again in the 2024 regional elections," said the former Governor of Jakarta.

Regarding the Jakarta Regional Election, Djarot revealed that PDI-P will also consider endorsing the best candidates, including Social Minister Tri Rismaharini. Other candidates that are also being considered to be proposed as the Governor of DKI Jakarta are State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform Minister Abdullah Azwar Anas and former Mayor of Semarang Hendrar Prihadri, who is now the Head of the Government Procurement Policy Agency (LKPP).

"The best cadres of PDI-P are numerous and have great potential, track records, capacity, and good electability. Therefore, everything will be considered and evaluated before the party issues a recommendation letter," said Djarot.

Similar to PDI-P, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) is also determined to field their cadre to run in the Jakarta gubernatorial election. PKS spokesperson, M Kholid, revealed that as the political party with the most votes in the election of Jakarta DPR members, PKS wants their cadre to become the governor of DKI Jakarta.

So far, there are two potential cadres who will be nominated. "In this temporary decision, we want PKS cadres because there are two names that have emerged: Mr. Sohibul Iman, former President of PKS, and Mardani Ali Sera, a PKS politician who represents Jakarta," said Kholid.

Separately, the Secretary General of the Gerindra Party, Ahmad Muzani, said that Gerindra is currently trying to introduce potential candidates who will be supported. The lobbying process for the regional elections is also carried out in parallel with political communication related to the presidential elections. "Like other parties, we are also introducing our candidates," he said.

Currently, the Gerindra Party has recommended several names to run in the 2024 Regional Elections, including Golkar politician Ridwan Kamil to run in the West Java Regional Election and Nasdem politician Ahmad Ali to run in the Central Sulawesi Regional Election.

Discussions regarding the pilkada coalition have also been conducted by the Nasdem Party, including with PKS. The pilkada coalition is one of the things discussed in the meeting between Nasdem General Chairman Surya Paloh and PKS President Ahmad Syaikhu at the Nasdem Tower, yesterday (Wednesday).

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Regarding Anies Baswedan's chances of being nominated again as a candidate for governor of DKI Jakarta, Paloh said he did not want to rush it. “Regarding Bang Anies, yes, the opportunity will definitely be discussed. Later we will continue the stages. Right, that's just the initial stage. Right, the Constitutional Court has just finished, not yet 24 hours. "We'll give it a short break, maybe a week, two weeks, we'll talk about it," said Paloh.

Meanwhile, Kholid hopes that presidential candidate number 1 and former Governor of Jakarta, Anies Baswedan, can provide support for the PKS party cadre. However, PKS remains open if Anies becomes a PKS member and runs again in the Jakarta Gubernatorial Election. Nevertheless, there has been no discussion about it so far.