PDIP narrows down vice presidential candidates to five potential names

INDONESIA – In the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election in Indonesia, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) has announced that the list of potential vice-presidential candidates has been narrowed down to five names.

Puan Maharani, the Head of the Central Executive Board for Political Affairs at PDIP, made this announcement and shed light on the selection process.

Puan Maharani, the Head of the Central Executive Board for Political Affairs at the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP)

Initially, there were ten names under consideration to accompany the presidential candidate, Ganjar Pranowo. However, after careful deliberation, the list has been reduced to just five names.

Among the prospective candidates is Muhaimin Iskandar, the Chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB), as revealed by Puan on Sunday (23 Jul).

“Now it has narrowed down to five names. One of them is Cak Imin,” explained Puan.

Besides Cak Imin, there are also names like the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, the Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir, the Chairman of the Democratic Party Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, and the Former Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces General Andika Perkasa.

Puan explained that initially, there were ten names on the radar of the PDIP. However, now only five names remain. Puan emphasized that these five individuals are considered the cream of the crop and represent the best possible candidates to serve as Ganjar Pranowo’s running mate.

Ganjar Pranowo, the Presidential Candidate

Puan Maharani, in a statement, referred to the closeness between PDIP and PKB, likening their relationship to that of siblings. She acknowledged the long-standing collaboration between the two parties, spanning a decade or more, emphasizing the alignment of their visions and missions since the era of Sukarno, the first President of Indonesia, and his ties with the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).

Puan hopes that despite PKB already forming a coalition with the Gerindra Party, PKB will be able to join PDIP.

Meanwhile, Ganjar Pranowo himself commented on the ongoing internal discussions within PDIP concerning the vice-presidential candidate. He revealed that the final decision could come from either a professional background or a political party affiliation, expressing his willingness to cooperate with any candidate as long as they share the same vision and values.

During a gathering with PDIP members in Solo, Central Java, on 23 Jul, Ganjar Pranowo expressed his intention to personally speak with each potential candidate to ensure a unified mission and shared values, reinforcing the importance of a harmonious and united leadership.

Earlier, Ganjar Pranowo had outlined the criteria for his potential running mate for the upcoming presidential election. He stressed the necessity for the vice-presidential candidate to possess boundless energy, a unified vision, and an absence of personal agendas. Ganjar believes that both the president and vice president must be a cohesive unit, working together towards the advancement of the nation and adhering to the constitution and laws.

As the election date draws nearer, the nation eagerly awaits the final decision on who will be standing alongside Ganjar Pranowo as his vice-presidential candidate. The process of choosing the ideal partner will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping Indonesia’s future as they strive to achieve their collective aspirations in the next thirteen years.