Susi Pudjiastuti Officially Uninterested on Vice Presidency Slot

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti is believed to be uninterested in becoming a vice president candidate for Joko Widodo in the 2019 presidential election despite being backed by volunteers.

“She shouldn’t be pushed into [a candidacy]. What she has done has been more than admirable,” said Harbrinderjit Singh Dillon, former President's Special Envoy on poverty reduction on Wednesday, April 25.

According to Dillon, who has followed Susi’s career closely since 2014, Susi Pudjiastuti has immense commitment in developing the maritime and fisheries sector.

“I am certain that Susi would contribute to the nation as businesswoman despite not being a State Minister,” Dillon expressed.

Previously reported, a group of youngsters and students calling themselves the JOSS volunteers declared Minister Susi Pudjiastuti as a candidate for the opportunity on becoming Jokowi’s running mate in the upcoming election, despite having no actual connection with the Minister.

Minister Susi Pudjiastuti herself said that she was not made aware of the JOSS volunteers since she was at the Pangandaran District in West Java as the volunteers held its declaration.

Even if Minister Susi would accept the group’s support, she would be hampered by the country’s regulation where Constitution No 7/2017 states that a presidential and vice presidential candidate must bare at least a high school degree, which Minister Susi does not have.

“Daytime dreamer youngsters,” as Minister Susi Pudjiastuti texted Tempo when asked for her official response on Monday. April 23.

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