The coalition, comprising the Democratic Party, the National Mandate Party (PAN), the United Development Party (PPP) and the National Awakening Party (PKB), nominated Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono and Silvyana Murni as its candidates for the posts of Jakarta Governor and Deputy Governor, respectively.
The Cikeas Coalition is optimistic that Agus and Sylviana will be able to garner sympathy from the citizens of Jakarta in the first round of elections.
"With the existing structure, we will see to it that the entire political machinery is able to work together to win," Chairman of the PPP, Muhammad Romahurmuziy, told reporters at the residence of Democratic Party Chairman Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, in Cikeas, Bogor, on Friday morning.
The decision to select Agus and Sylviana as candidates for the office of governor and deputy governor of Jakarta, was taken after intensive deliberations among the parties.
The commitment of the political party leaders to prepare to fight the elections in Jakarta is based not only on the winnability of the candidates but also because theu consider Jakarta a window into the mind of the Republic.
"Jakarta is the face of Indonesia," he declared.
"We have come together and recognize that Jakarta is a melting pot and a meeting place for all citizens of Indonesia. So if were talking about Jakarta, we are essentially talking about whole of Indonesia," added Romahurmuziy.
On Friday morning, PAN General Chairman Zulkifli Hasan announced that the son of former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, army major Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, has been named a candidate to contest the next Jakarta Gubernatorial election in 2017.
Jakarta Deputy Governor for tourism and culture Sylviana Murni will be Agus running mate, nominated by the coalition of the Democratic Party, the United Development Party (PPP), the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the National Mandate Party (PAN).
Both the names came as a surprise for most observers. These names emerged only during a series of meetings among the four minority parties at Yudhoyonos residence in Cikeas, Bogor, West Java.
"It was agreed that the candidate for the posts of governor and vice governor, which will go to polls in 2017, will be Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono and Ms Sylviana Murni," Zulkifli Hasan declared after one such meeting in the early hours of Friday.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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