TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan officially signed up as a presidential candidate for the 2024 elections along with his running mate Muhaimin Iskandar, who is the leader of the National Awakening Party (PKB), at the General Elections Commission (KPU) today, Oct. 19.

Anies arrived at the KPU at 9:45 a.m. local time, about 15 minutes after the arrival of the NasDem Party Chairman Surya Paloh and Muhaimin. The first pair to register for the presidential race said they were offering the idea of change for the Indonesian people.

“We want [to realize] equal opportunity to get a job, equal opportunity to get a better life through education, and equal opportunity to get good health protection,” Anies said after submitting the registration documents to the KPU.

He also hoped that people could maintain unity and togetherness during the election process. “We may have different ideas, but we are truly one nation, one state, with one goal,” Anies Baswedan stressed.

The pair, endorsed by the Coalition for Change comprising of the NasDem Party, the PKB, and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), was scheduled to undergo a medical test on Saturday, October 21, 2023.

The next pair to register for the presidential race on the first day of the week-long registration period are the ruling party’s candidates Ganjar Pranowo and Mohammad Mahfud Mahmodin or Mahfud MD.

The former Central Java governor and the Coordinating Minister for Security Affairs arrived at the KPU at 12:30 p.m. Jakarta time. They were accompanied by leaders of parties of the ruling PDIP, PPP, Perindo, and Hanura parties, namely Megawati Soekarnoputri, Mardiono, Hary Tanoesoedibjo, and Oesman Sapta Odang, respectively.

Before heading to the KPU, Ganjar told his supporters at the Independence Proclamation Park that this was not about seizing power. “We want to emphasize that this (election) is not about Ganjar. This is not about Mahfud Md. This is not about [seizing] power,” he said.

He stressed that the presidential election is about people's fate, the fate of Indonesian children who need protection and access to good education, the fate of women who need special care, and the fate of disabled people who need equality. “This country must be governed well and clearly. This country must conduct itself to be anti-corruption,” said Ganjar.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto is the other presidential hopeful who has yet to disclose his running mate for the 2024 general elections.

HAN REVANDA PUTRA | ADE RIDWAN YANDWIPUTRA | FATURAHMAN SOPHIAN | IHSAN RELIUBUN

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