Mita Amalia Hapsari, Jakarta – The Golkar Party has announced its plan to nominate former West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil (RK) as its candidate for the Jakarta gubernatorial election and is now focusing on selecting a suitable running mate.
Potential candidates being considered include Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) Chairman Kaesang Pangarep, who is President Joko Widodo's youngest son, and toll road businessman Jusuf Hamka.
"Names such as Mr. Kaesang from PSI have emerged, and we have proposed Mr. Jusuf Hamka. The National Mandate Party (PAN) previously suggested Mrs. Zita Anjani (Deputy Speaker of the Jakarta Legislative Council and PAN's chairman Zulkifli Hasan's daughter). I also encouraged Gerindra to consider Mr. Ahmad Riza Patria (former Jakarta Deputy Governor)," Golkar's Deputy Chairman, Ahmad Doli Kurnia, said during a visit to Golkar Chairman Airlangga Hartarto's residence in Jakarta on Wednesday evening.
Doli mentioned that these names will be thoroughly discussed to decide who will become Ridwan Kamil's running mate. "This will be done together with the political parties within the Koalisi Indonesia Maju as well as those that may join later," he added.
Doli emphasized that the discussion of the vice gubernatorial candidate is a final topic in negotiations with other parties. The primary decision is to endorse Ridwan Kamil as the gubernatorial candidate for Jakarta.
So far, Doli claimed that the parties within KIM have responded positively to Ridwan Kamil's nomination. "Golkar, as part of the KIM, will discuss this with the leadership within KIM. Informally, it seems that Ridwan Kamil's name has been accepted," Doli stated.
He also noted that Golkar is open to pairing Ridwan Kamil with candidates from other parties. "Thankfully, all members of the coalition have accepted this, and those outside the coalition have responded positively as well," he said.