Some people in the party want Jokowi to be named as the presidential candidate, while others do not.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesia Democratic Party Struggle (PDIP) will hold a national meeting on September 6-8 to select its presidential candidate for next year`s election.

"The agenda of the meeting will be to prepare for the next parliamentary and presidential elections and to examine the political dynamics within and outside the party," PDIP associate chairperson Puan Maharani said at the parliament building here on Tuesday.

She noted that the political dynamics inside and outside the party had changed.

When asked whether the party would choose Jakarta governor Joko Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi as its presidential candidate, Puan said: "Some people in the party want Jokowi to be named as the presidential candidate, while others do not."

At the same time, she also pointed out that it was normal to have differences of opinion within any party.

However, Puan revealed that PDIF chief Megawati Soekarnoputri would take into account the rising popularity of Jokowi, a PDIP member, when selecting the party`s presidential candidate.

If a lot of regional and local chapters of PDIF called for Jokowi`s nomination, Puan continued, the matter would be considered seriously.

"Since the meeting will be attended by all major party officials, their choice of presidential candidate would certainly be taken into consideration by the general chairperson," she said.

Puan, who is also the daughter of Megawati, a former president, added that the national meeting could also spring up a few surprises.

According to the party's internal rules, the presidential candidate is to be selected by the party chairman after a national or leadership meeting is held.

The parliamentary election is scheduled to be held in Indonesia in April 2014, while the presidential election will be held later that year.

PDIP, one of the country`s largest political parties, has not yet selected its presidential candidate for the 2014 election, although some other parties have already done so.

Its chief rival, Golkar, has chosen its general chairman, Aburizal Bakrie, as its presidential candidate, while the ruling Democrat Party will soon organize a convention to select its candidate.

According to some analysts, PDIP`s decision on whether to choose Jokowi would determine the party`s performance in the legislative election. Only if the party wins can it nominate its own candidate for the presidential election.

Reporting by Riza Harahap

Editor: Ella Syafputri
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