Deputy Jakarta governor for tourism and culture Sylviana Murni will be Agus running mate nominated by the coalition of Democrat Party, United Development Party (PPP), National Awakening Party (PKB) and National Mandate Party (PAN).
The pair is almost virtually unexpected by observers. Their names emerged only during the series of meetings by the minority four parties at the Yudhoyonos residence in Cikeas, Bogor.
"It was agreed that the candidate for governor and vice governor to contest the Jakarta regional election in 2017 are Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono and Ms Sylviana Murni," PAN General Chairman Zulkifli Hasan said after the meetings in the early hours of Friday.
PKB General Chairman Muhaimin Iskandar said the decision to name Agus and Sylviana was based on a number of factors all for the interest of the people of Jakarta.
"A combination of a young and fresh man with high integrity, and a career civil servant is promising," Muhaimin said.
Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono will end his military career and Sylviana has to tender her resignation as civil servant to be able to take part in the election to challenge the incumbent pair of Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) and Djarot.
The pair of Ahok-Djarot has been nominated by the ruling Indonesian Democratic for Struggle Party (PDIP), Nasdem, Hanura and Golkar.
Another pair is expected to be announced by the coalition of Gerindra and PKS on Friday , the last day for official registration at the Election Commission.
Ahok-Djarot has topped all voters polls against other potential candidates and pairs, but the pair of Agus-Sylvian was not yet included in any of polls.
(T.SYS/B/H-ASG/A014)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
