PPP: Jokowi to Register as Presidential Candidate on August 10

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The United Development Party (PPP) chairman Romahurmuziy said Joko Widodo or Jokowi planned to submit his name as a presidential candidate on the last day of registration period on Friday, August 10. The General Election Commission (KPU) opens the registration period on August 4-10.

“He will register on August 10,” Romy told Tempo, today, August 3. As for the vice presidential candidate, he added, Jokowi will announce the name on August 9. 

PDIP Party central board chairman Hendrawan Supratikno said the announcement of Jokowi’s running mate on the last days was part of Jokowi’s political strategy. “This is among the political dynamic and evolution of strategy,” he said in an interview with Tempo via a phone call, Friday, August 3.

Meanwhile, PKB`s secretary-general Jazilul Fawaid said his party urged Jokowi to immediately reveal his vice presidential candidate and submit their names to KPU. He refuted the report said his suggestion was delivered to provide time for PKB to walk out from the coalition if the party’s chair Cak Imin is not chosen as Jokowi's running mate.

The opposition coalition, PKS and Gerindra Party, was still arguing the vice presidential chair. PKS insisted Gerindra patron chief Prabowo Subianto take one of the two names suggested during Ulema meeting (Ijtima’ Ulema). They are Ustad Abdul Somad and PKS Advisory Council chair Salim Segaf Al-Jufri.

The coalition party supports Jokowi are the Indonesia Democrat Party of Struggle (PDIP), the Functional Group (Golkar) Party, the National Democrat (Nasdem) Party, the National Awakening Party (PKB), and the People's Conscience (Hanura) Party. The opposition coalition as claimed by Prabowo Subianto includes the Great Indonesia Movement Party with the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the Democrat Party, and the National Mandate Party (PAN).

DEWI NURITA