Yes, that is a maneuver, part of a maneuver for a long-term goal."Batam, Riau Islands (ANTARA News) - PDIP secretary general Tjahyo Kumolo described President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyonos recent criticism of Jakarta governor Joko Widodo (Jokowi) as being a political maneuver.
"Yes, that is a maneuver, part of a maneuver for a long-term goal," he said when opening a Riau Islands regional party meeting here on Saturday.
He noted that the President spoke not only as a head of state, but also as a party general chairman. President Yudhoyono is currently the general chairman of the ruling Democrat Party.
Moreover, survey results by a number of institutes have shown Jokowi, a PDIP member, leading others in becoming a potential presidential candidate in the 2014 election.
Tjahyo Kumolo, however, said that PDIP is still monitoring developments in other parties, as well as preferences by members of the community, prior to announcing the partys candidate.
Based on the results of internal and external surveys, five names have emerged as potential candidates for the presidential election next year and two of them, according to Tjahyo Kumolo, are from PDIP, including Jokowi and Megawati Soekarnooputri, the former president and current PDIP general chairperson.
PDIP officials, however, has not yet narrowed the number of candidates, saying "We need patience. We must also be careful and not rush to announce the name."
Tjahyo said he feared if PDIP announced the name of its candidate too early, the candidate could become a target of attacks by other political parties, as happened to Jokowi and "even by a president" referring to President Yudhoyonos criticism of traffic congestion in Jakarta.
Tjahyo Kumolo said PDIP would announce the name of its candidate at the right time and it would be done by the partys general chairperson. "We will refer it to the general chairperson," he said. ***1***
(Reporting by Jannatun Naim/H-YH/INE/KR-BSR/A014)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
