"Bismillah (in the name of God), I accept the nomination (to become presidential candidate)," Suryadharma stated at the PPP 41st anniversary here on Sunday.
According to Suryadharma, as a PPP cadre, who has been educated and nurtured by the party, (he) is automatically has an obligation to devote himself to the PPP and the Indonesian people who have a wide range of diversity.
Suryadharma, who is concurrently the Religious Affairs Minister, believed that in the spirit of Islam, the nations complicated problems can be solved.
"I am absolutely convinced with (the spirit of) Islam, we can dedicate our best work," he disclosed.
With regard to a failure of the partys second national congress to declare its presidential candidate in the current Second National Working Meeting (Mukernas II), Suryadharma said that PPP will not declare its presidential hopeful until after the implementation of the countrys legislative general election in April this year.
"There is no declaration of presidential candidate," Secretary of PPPs Experts Assembly Ahmad Yani meanwhile said on the sidelines of the partys second national congress at the wee hours here on Sunday.
He said further that the decision to announce PPPs presidential candidate would be taken at the PPP National Leadership Meeting forum after the 2014 legislative elections in April.
Apart from that, the PPPs congress also agreed to include other six external figures to become the partys nominees for the presidential candidates namely, Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo, Chairman of the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) Jusuf Kalla, the East Kutai (Kalimantan) Regent Isran Noor, General Chairman of Muhammadiyah Din Shamsuddin, former Chairman of the Constitutional Court (MK) Jimly Asshiddiqie and former Minister of Womens Empowerment Khofifah Indar Parawansa.
The PPP has set a target of garnering 12 percent votes in the 2014 legislative general election, Suryadharma said earlier.
"If PPP reaches its set target of votes, then it will help the party to secure 67 seats in the parliament," Suryadharma said on Friday.
In addition, he also believed the coalition was possible for the general elections this year.
"I have confidence in the central axis coalition to be realized in the current national politics," he said at a discussion on "Chance of a Presidential Candidate from Islamic Political Parties."
He said his conviction on the idea was based on the good communication that Islamic political party leaders in the country have done so far.
"Basically our relations are good. Islamic party general chairmen are currently also sitting in the cabinet. So minimally we meet once a week," he added.
Reporting by Anita Permata Dewi
(B003)
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2014
