TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) stated that Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY), who is considered to fulfill the general vice presidential qualification, is included in the long list of President Jokowi`s possible running mate for the 2019 Presidential Election.

“Yes, [AHY] is in PDIP’s long list, but we do not know if he’s been included in the short list,” said PDIP central executive board Hendrawan Supratikno today, May 4.

AHY started his political debut in the 2017 Jakarta Gubernatorial Election as a gubernatorial candidate.

Read: Jokowi-AHY Popular in 2019 Presidential Election Pollsters

and: Pollster Jokowi-AHY Pair Has Highest Electability

Despite his loss at the election’s first round, the eldest son of former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) had grown popular among the Indonesian crowd and has always been included as presidential candidate material by several polls.

AHY was the strongest candidate in the Indikator Politik Indonesia poll that searched for Jokowi’s running mate. AHY obtained 16.2 percent, defeating Anies Baswedan that scored 13 percent, Gatot Nurmantyo (7 percent), and other 16 candidates.

However, Hendrawan stated that the party will not make hasty decisions in naming Jokowi’s running mate just based on poll results. He reasoned that there are several elements that must be fulfilled in becoming a vice presidential candidate and top priorities that only the PDIP chairman knows.

M Rosseno Aji