The general chairperson of the Indonesia Democratic Party Struggle (PDIP), Megawati Soekarnoputri, arrived at a decision to allow Jokowi, as the governor is popularly called, to run for president in the election scheduled for July 9.
PDIPs central executive board member Puan Maharani announced Jokowis candidacy for the presidency at the partys headquarters on Friday (March 14), two days before the start of official campaigns for the legislative elections.
In her announcement, Puan said general chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri chose to nominate Jokowi in accordance with the partys articles of association and the result of the partys congress held in Bali in 2010.
Jokowi, who has so far topped the list of the candidates preferred by voters in various surveys, made his candidacy known to the public at around 2.50pm during a visit to Marunda to check dam construction to overcome floods in North Jakarta, one of his activities locally called "blusukan" that has helped make him become a popular figure.
"I have received a mandate from PDIP Chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri to run for president," he said.
Upon hearing this, local residents, who listened to his statement, applauded him with a standing ovation and called out "Thank God".
"By saying Bismillah (with the name of Allah), I am ready to carry out this mandate," he told Marunda residents.
Having declared his readiness to run for president, Jokowi then kissed a red and white Indonesian flag behind him.
Following the announcement, the ruling Democratic Party said it is ready to face Joko Widodo as a candidate for this years presidential election, the partys spokesperson, Andi Nurpati, said.
"We have prepared a strategy. Whoever the candidates are, we have a strategy," Andi Nurpati said here on Friday.
Andi noted that the Democratic Party has studied all possible presidential candidates from other political parties for the 2014 presidential election.
According to Andi, all names will be considered until the legislative election results become known.
"We have many people participating in our presidential candidate convention. They are ready to face Joko Widodo, Prabowo Subianto or Aburizal Bakrie," she said.
Meanwhile, a political analyst, Ari Junaedi of the University of Indonesia, predicted PDIP will win 27.02 percent, or about 152 seats in parliament, after it nominated Jokowi as its presidential hopeful.
"I am convinced PDIP will reap 27.02 percent of the votes and secure 152 seats in the House of Representatives (DPR) in the April 9 legislative elections next month," he said, when contacted by Antara here on Friday (March 14).
He added that this was because Jokowi will be elected, not only by PDIP supporters but also by supporters from other parties. Therefore, PDIPs gains will increase significantly.
Ari Junaedi believes that with Jokowis nomination as a presidential candidate, the presidential election this year will last only one round.
"PDIP will emerge as the winner because it nominated Jokowi. He will win the election in only one round," he said.
If the presidential elections are held in only one round, campaign costs will be lower.
"The campaigns will be lower because the people will vote for Jokowi. You can see people on the street now yelling for a victory for Jokowi," Ari Junaedi added.
Many people were previously expected to abstain from casting their votes (golput) in the next election, but with the nomination of Jokowi they are expected to change their plans to become golputs.
"People who planned to become golputs will drop them and opt to vote for Jokowi. Also, the competition through campaigns is actually over now, because the PDIP is sure to emerge as the winner," he said.
The Hanura Party shared Junaedis view, admitting that Joko Widodos nomination as a presidential candidate would boost the Indonesia Democratic Party Struggles (PDIP) votes in legislative elections next month.
"His nomination will boost PDIPs legislative elections victory," deputy head of Hanura Partys steering board for elections success, Yuddy Chrisnandi, told Antara here on Friday evening.
He admitted PDIP was a step ahead of other political parties in terms of the presidential contest because of the popularity of Jokowi.
He, however, warned that Jokowi would not be the sole candidate to run for president in the upcoming election.
"Rivals will certainly emerge. So, let us just see the results of the legislative elections," he said. The Hanura party has nominated former military leader, retired general Wiranto, as its presidential candidate.
Yuddy said the winner of the presidential election is still unknown due to various factors that could affect the elections.
"The coalition of political parties for choosing the vice presidential candidate would be one of the factors that would also determine victory," he said.
According to the rules, a political party has to garner 25 percent of the national votes or win 20 percent of the parliamentary seats in order to be able to nominate its own presidential and vice presidential candidate, or otherwise it has to join with other parties to meet the threshold.
The Gerindra Party, meanwhile, remained confident of its presidential candidate, Prabowo Subianto.
The partys secretary general, Aryo Djojohadikusumo, said here on Friday (March 14) that the party remains confident of Prabowo Subianto because of his qualities, which are needed to overcome the declining national life.
"Gerindra is convinced and knows exactly that Indonesia needs a strong leader with an international outlook and who is a populist. All of these qualities are in Prabowo Subianto," he said.
Gerindras general chairman, Suhardi, said his party is now focusing on increasing Prabowos electability.
"We focus on Prabowos candidacy. We are ready to face any candidates from other parties," he said here on Friday.
Golkar Party, which is believed to be a strong rival of PDIP, welcomed the Indonesia Democratic Party Struggle (PDIP)s decision to nominate Joko Widodo as its presidential candidate.
The political map is now clear, the partys associate chairman, Hajrianto Thoyari, said here on Friday (March 14).
"Before the declaration, we could only guess who would be PDIPs candidate. Would it be Jokowi or Megawati? (the partys general chairperson). Yesterday, it was still uncertain," he noted in a written statement.
Jokowis nomination, he said, gave the Golkar Party information that it could use to immediately formulate strategies to win both the legislative elections on April 9 and presidential election on July 9.
He said Golkar would not be influenced by the development and rush to change the political decision that it had made. He added that Golkar would not yet think of joining with PDIP or Jokowi.
"Right now, Golkar is concentrating on wining legislative elections on April 9. Golkar remains confident, and once a decision is made, it will not be withdrawn," he said.
Golkar had declared its general chairman, Aburizal Bakrie, to be its presidential candidate in the upcoming presidential election.
Political parties that have announced their presidential candidates are Gerindra, PDIP, Hanura and Golkar.
Whether Jokowi will win the presidential election, only time will determine.
(H-YH/INE/H-YH)
(KR-BSR/H-YH)
Reporter: Yoseph Hariyadi
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2014
