TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Democrat Party chairman Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, or SBY, said there would be new leaders in 2019.
“I will pair them later, the presidential and vice presidential candidates who understand the people's hopes. If God allows, there will be new leaders who are trustworthy, intelligent and think for the people," SBY told hundreds of ulemas, santri [students of Islamic boarding schools] and Cilegon residents in Banten, on Sunday, 22 April.
SBY, however, did not elucidate who the new figures would be, but said instead he would pair presidential and vice presidential contenders who were cognizant of the people's aspirations.
The Democrat Party has yet to determine its stance ahead of the 2019 presidential race—despite rife rumors it was set to join the Jokowi camp.
The probable coalition was evident when Jokowi attended the Democrat National Leadership Meeting at the Sentul International Convention Center in West Java in March.
Read: SBY Denies His Involvement in E-KTP Graft
SBY has engaged in a series of political trips for the past two months. Prior to Banten, SBY visited West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta, and East Java.
SBY's eldest son Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, or AHY, has also traveled around Java. AHY, who serves as the commander of the party's 2019 election winning team, toured the regions to grasp the people's aspirations.
Confirmed separately, the party's deputy secretary-general, Rachland Nashidik, was non-committal when asked to clarify SBY's statement. He was also tight-lipped about the possibility of the Democrat's forming a third axis vying against Joko Widodo and Prabowo Subianto.
Rachland said SBY's statement was clear enough that it did not require further accounts. "Just wait for the date," he said.
M ROSSENO AJI
