Anies Baswedan and Rano Karno Meet at PDIP Headquarters

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) Central Leadership Council (DPP), Djarot Saiful Hidayat, confirmed that Anies Baswedan had visited the party’s DPP office in Central Jakarta. Anies arrived at the party office during the announcement of gubernatorial candidates for the 2024 regional head elections.

“Indeed, we saw Mr. Anies come to building B (PDIP DPP) to meet with Si Doel, Bang Rano Karno,” said Djarot at the PDIP DPP on Monday, August 26, 2024.

Djarot stated that Anies, the former governor of Jakarta, and Rano Karno, the former governor of Banten, were merely discussing. He clarified that his party had not decided on the gubernatorial and deputy candidates for the Jakarta Regional Head Election. The matter of regional head candidates, he said, is the prerogative of PDIP General Chair Megawati Soekarnoputri.

“Please be patient for a day or two. The General Chair will definitely announce who will be nominated in Jakarta, West Java, and East Java,” said Djarot.

Adian Napitupulu, Deputy Secretary General of PDIP and Head of the election-winning team, stated that the party's Jakarta Regional Leadership Council had not yet decided on the gubernatorial candidate to be supported in the election.

“Does that prohibit people from visiting us? Of course not. Anyone who wants to come is welcome,” said Adian.

The top party official was hesitant to reveal why the party did not accept or reject Anies Baswedan for the Jakarta election. Anies visited the party headquarters during the announcement of regional head candidates for batch III but did not attend the event held in the 5th Floor Hall of Building A.

Based on photos circulating among journalists, Anies was seen sitting with Rano Karno. Anies wore a red woven shirt, while Rano wore a PDIP jacket.

Previously, media outlets reported that Anies would visit Megawati at the party’s office in Menteng. Before leaving, Anies sought his mother's blessing, Aliyah Rasyid Baswedan.

Anies' spokesperson, Angga Putra Firidian, confirmed the planned visit to the PDIP. “That's right, he was reportedly going there. We don't have specific details yet regarding the purpose of his visit,” Angga said.

The Constitutional Court's decision has paved the way for the party to nominate a gubernatorial candidate pair in the Jakarta election. Constitutional Court Decision Number 60/PUU-XXII/2024, which lowered the threshold for regional head nominations, makes the party eligible to nominate a candidate pair without forming a coalition with other political parties.

Before the Constitutional Court's decision, the party's chances were limited as all parties with seats in the Jakarta DPRD, except for the PDIP and the Hanura Party, had supported Ridwan Kamil-Suswono.

Anies Baswedan was initially going to be supported by PKB, PKS, and NasDem Party. However, the members of the Change Coalition, which supported Anies-Cak Imin in the 2024 Presidential Election, chose to join the Advanced Indonesia Coalition, which supported Prabowo-Gibran Rakabuming in the 2024 Presidential Election and will endorse Ridwan Kamil-Suswono.

EKA YUDHA SAPUTRA

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