Indonesia’s ruling party declares Central Java Governor Ganjar as presidential candidate for 2024 election
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
The ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle declared Central Java provincial governor Ganjar Pranowo as its presidential candidate in next year’s general election.
PHOTO: GANJAR PRANOWO/FACEBOOK
Follow topic:
JAKARTA – The ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has declared Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo as its presidential candidate for the 2024 general election.
The announcement by PDI-P chairman Megawati Soekarnoputri on Friday paves the way for South-east Asia’s largest democracy to have a three-way presidential race that will be held concurrently with the legislative election on Feb 14, 2024.
“With this decision, I hereby instruct... all cadres to immediately move forward, work hard, meet the grassroots and win the 2024 general election,” Ms Megawati said in a YouTube broadcast.
President Joko Widodo – who is a PDI-P member – was present at Friday’s announcement in Bogor, West Java, and expressed appreciation for Ms Megawati’s move.
“Voters need to know early who the presidential and vice-presidential candidates (that will join the 2024 race) are, so they have ample time to assess and make their decision,” he said.
Sharing his views on the newly announced presidential candidate, Mr Widodo added: “Ganjar is a leader who is close to the people, is always visiting the grassroots, and has strong ideologies.”
Mr Widodo also said that his successor must continue priority programmes that had been started by his administration, adding that a democratic process concerning the nation’s succession is a must.
The remark has been viewed by observers as a rebuttal to opponent politicians’ claim that Mr Widodo has sought to exert his influence over the next presidential election.
Agreeing with Mr Widodo in an appreciation speech that ended Friday’s event, Mr Ganjar pledged: “We must carry on with the fundamental (development) that President Joko Widodo has built. He has made breakthroughs.”
He also expressed his thanks for the task given to him by the PDI-P, noting this was not his first important assignment from the party.
He had previously spent ten years as a PDI-P MP, and will complete his second and final five-year term as Central Java governor on a PDI-P ticket in August.
“It is an honour for me. It is not an easy task,” Mr Ganjar said, appealing for support from the PDI-P cadre.
Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto Anies Baswedan
A running mate has not yet been decided for either candidate.
Political parties must officially submit their pair of candidates to the national election commission (KPU) between Oct 19 and Nov 25.
Indonesia’s election law requires a political party or a coalition of political parties that field a pair of presidential and vice-presidential candidates to have at least 20 per cent of the 575 national Parliament seats.
PDI-P is the only party out of nine that has more than 20 per cent, and thus does not need to join hands with any party to field a candidate pairing.
Mr Ganjar
His decision to oppose Israeli participation echoed that of fellow PDI-P party cadre and Bali provincial governor Wayan Koster and other conservative groups, which then led Indonesia to lose its hosting rights in a significant embarrassment for the country and its football.
The two most popular sports in Indonesia are football and badminton.
In the latest public opinion survey of presidential hopefuls by noted Jakarta-based pollster Lembaga Survei Indonesia (LSI) following the football tournament fiasco, Mr Ganjar – who was ranked first in a previous survey – was overtaken by Mr Prabowo, while Mr Anies remained in third place.
The survey of 1,229 respondents across Indonesia was conducted from March 31 to April 4.
