TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - As many as 40 people joined in the Kebangkitan Indonesia Baru (New Indonesia Awakening) community submitted a support petition at the Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo's (Jokowi) official house in Menteng, Central Jakarta. The petition was received by Pri, Jokowi's household secretary.

Jokowi considered that supporting him to be a candidate for president is reasonable as such thing is common in democracy. But he stated that the presidential candidacy is up to the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri. "Mrs. Mega has the authority [to determine the presidential candidate]," Jokowi said.

In an interview with Tempo on Wednesday last week, Jokowi stated that he would be focusing on issues in Jakarta first. "The political affairs are up to the party. Let the party deal with that," he said.

When he was asked about his candidacy declaration next month, Jokowi ambiguously responded while laughing: "It has been raining and I'm dealing with road repairs. So that the road will be smooth to go there…"

Charta Politika Director Executive Yunarto Wijaya said that Jokowi is presenting himself as an obedient cadre, not as a presidential candidate. According to Yunarto, Jokowi has never tried to act like a presidential candidate, but he is waiting for the party's decision. Yunarto is convinced that Jokowi would not refuse if the party declared him as a presidential candidate.

PDI-P's politician, Arief Wibowo, stated that the party is preparing Jokowi as one of the presidential candidates. The party will set up a meeting for Jokowi with international figures and economists as preparation if Jokowi is promoted to be a candidate for presidency.

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