TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle's (PDIP) central executive board (DPP) held a fit and proper test for President Joko Widodo or Jokowi’s eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, and Achmad Purnomo-Teguh Prakosa as prospective candidates for the 2020 Solo Mayoral Election. Puan Maharani and Djarot Saiful Hidayat were tapped as panelists.

The party’s secretary-general, Hasto Kristiyanto, said the screening would be about leadership aspects. “Pak Djarot Saiful Hidayat is present because he has wide experience as a mayor for two periods, a House member, a deputy governor, and governor. Mbak Puan Maharani will also join,” said Hasto in his office, Jalan Diponegoro, Jakarta, Monday, February 10.

Besides Djarot and Puan, the party’s industry, employment, and social assurance chief Nusyirwan Soejono and election campaign unit chief Bambang Wuryanto also acted as panelists, Hasto added.

He reiterated that the board would first review the test results and the public views before deciding which candidates they would endorse in the upcoming regional election.

Gibran previously registered as a prospective mayor candidate for the Solo Regional Head Election through the PDIP Central Java branch after he was rejected by the party’s regional branch in Solo that favored Achmad Purnomo-Teguh.

The process of the fit and proper test was still in progress when this report was written. The PDIP barred reporters from entering the test room.

AHMAD FAIZ