The decision of PDIP to nominate Jokowi as its presidential hopeful is a momentum."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The decision of Megawati Soekarnoputri to agree to field the Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo as a presidential candidate is not merely a matter of compliance, but also a sign of her statesmanship, an observer said.
"This is a political reality. It shows Megawatis statesmanship, who put aside her own ambition to be re-nominated as the presidential candidate of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP)," the political observer Said Salahuddin said here on Friday.
According to Salahuddin, Megawati and other PDIP leaders were aware that this time was the best chance for their party, which was in the opposition for the past ten years. The 2014 presidential race is a chance for the PDIP to regain power through the elections.
"The decision of PDIP to nominate Jokowi as its presidential hopeful is a momentum. If it is successful in the 2014 election, it will constitute the fruit of its being an opposition party for the ruling party," Salahuddin said.
Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo said he was ready to be nominated as a presidential candidate by the Indonesian Democratic Party Struggle (PDIP), here on Friday.
"I have received the mandate from the PDIP Chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri to run for president," the governor said, when visiting Marunda, North Jakarta.
Local residents who listened to his statement honored him with a standing ovation and said "Thank God".
"By saying Bismillah (in the name of Allah), I am ready to carry out this mandate," Jokowi told Marunda residents at around 2.50 p.m. local time.
Having declared his readiness to run for the president, Jokowi then kissed the red and white Indonesian flag behind him.
(Uu.A014/INE/KR-BSR/H-YH)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2014
