Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Vice President Jusuf Kalla (JK) has yet to know the lists containing names of prospective candidates to be selected as the running mate of Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in the 2019 presidential race.

"I do not know it yet," JK stated after attending a national symposium on maintaining peace at the JS Luwarta Hotel in Jakarta on Tuesday.

JK said he supports President Jokowi, who will end his first presidential term in October 2019.

"As his vice president, of course, I support Pak (Mr) Jokowi (in his bid for the second term), so that his program, which we have carried out together, would be continued," JK noted.

The vice president said during the remaining 15 months of Jokowi`s working cabinet, additional programs have been initiated until the formation of a new government.

JK remarked that he will remain focused on completing the five-year programs along with the president.

"There is no new program. We remain focused on the five-year programs, including those related to infrastructure, agriculture, and fisheries," the vice president added.

In the meantime, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) has decided to pick Jokowi as its presidential candidate in the next presidential election.

A month before the registration of candidates for the 2019 presidential election, PDIP is currently selecting names for Jokowi`s alternate running mate in the presidential race next year.

PDI-P Executive Board Chairman Hendrawan Supratikno said his party is currently finalizing the priority list of candidates for Jokowi`s running mate. The priority list of candidates comprises three to five people.

"There is a priority list of three to five names. There are also short and long lists. The short list contains five to 10 names, while the long one comprises 15 to 20 names," Hendrawan revealed.

He added the names of those in the short and priority list were only known to PDI-P leader Megawati Sukarnoputri.

Reported by Fransiska Ninditya
(A014/INE)
(T.SYS/A/KR-BSR/F001)

Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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