Ina Parlina, Jakarta – The ailing Democratic Party kick started on Saturday a preliminary examination to shortlist candidates for the 2014 presidential poll.
An independent selection committee set up by the party handpicked 15 names to take part in a selection process said was inspired by the US presidential primary.
Indonesian Ambassador to the US Dino Patti Djalal, a former spokesperson for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, was the first to be interviewed on Saturday. Dino said the committee asked him what had motivated him to join the primary.
"[I answered] that it was because I wanted to payback what I owe to my generation and my children's generation," Dino told a press conference after the event. "I believe 2014 is important as we will be at a historical crossroad. Where we will take the country after 2014 is important."
Dino, who claimed he only wanted to empower the country, will run with a campaign slogan of Indonesia Unggul 45-21 (Indonesia Superior 45-21). It aims to encourage people to revive the spirit of nationalism in 1945 – when the nation gained independence – in the 21st century, which has greater challenges.
The committee will forward the interview's results to the party's supreme assembly, which will weigh up the candidates before Sept. 15 when the presidential convention begins.
The remaining candidates are scheduled for interviews with the committee next Tuesday and Wednesday. Committee spokesman Rully Charis, however, refused to reveal the names, saying doing so would be unethical. An official announcement is slated for Aug. 30.
Those who have confirmed their participation in the party's presidential primary are State-Owned Enterprises Minister Dahlan Iskan, House of Representatives Speaker Marzuki Alie, Regional Representatives Council (DPD) Speaker Irman Gusman, Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan and Gen. (ret.) Endriartono Sutarto.
Despite calling the whole selection process a presidential convention, the mechanism used by the committee to select a candidate is different from the one applied in the US. The committee invited top political figures, from both inside and outside the party, to join the race and party members do not have the right to vote a candidate.
Marzuki criticized the committee for not outlining clear requirements to join the convention, saying it seemed anyone could join if they wanted to. Other political parties whose members have been invited to join the process have accused the Democratic Party of poaching.
NasDem is one of the parties that slammed the party after its top politician, Endriartono, decided to join the primary. The party decided to fire Endriartono.
The Democratic Party was also eager to invite popular Jakarta Governor Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to join the race. Jokowi, however, has turned down the offer.
Democratic Party executive chairman Syarief Hasan downplayed the criticism, saying the convention "was intended to put the nation's interests above party interests."