TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Democrat Party Chairman Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) announced the Democrat Party is ready to endorse either Joko `Jokowi` Widodo or Prabowo Subianto in the 2019 presidential election if a third alternative candidate fails to form. The announcement was concluded at the political party’s high senates` meeting on Monday, July 9.

A video of the meeting’s results that was read by Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono stated that Democrat Party’s first option is to support Jokowi, second in line is to support Prabowo, while the third option is to support neither candidates if a third alternative candidate emerges.

“If we manage to form a third axis, the Democrat party will endorse the third alternative candidate,” said SBY who announced the meeting’s result in a 13-minute video Tempo received yesterday, July 12.

Today marks one month to the deadline for political parties to submit their candidates for the 2019 presidential election. The Democrat Party is still keen on studying the candidates it will endorse before the August 10 deadline.

Several party members have expressed their interest on supporting an alternative candidate such as the party chairman’s eldest son, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono.

Furthermore, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that his political party has actively intensified its communication with potential presidential candidates and other political parties that could form an alliance. SBY has already met with Jokowi while he has yet to personally meet with Prabowo Subianto.

FAJAR PEBRIANTO