Yuliasri Perdani, Jakarta – Two top Democratic Party (PD) executives declared their support for former Indonesian Army chief Gen. (ret) Pramono Edhie Wibowo in the party's presidential convention, fueling speculation that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's brother-in-law could end up winning the race.

On Sunday, Nurhayati Ali Assegaf, leader of the PD political faction at the House of Representatives, and PD deputy secretary general Saan Mustopa joined a campaign event hosted by Pramono in Karawang, West Java.

Saan, a close confidant of former PD chairman Anas Urbaningrum, called on his supporters to support Pramono. "We have a special guest today – Pramono Edhie – who is joining the Democratic Party's presidential convention [...] Remember his name and his face," he told the crowd.

Meanwhile, Nurhayati, who is a confidant of First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, referred to Pramono as the party's presidential candidate: "Who is our presidential candidate? Mas Edhie Wibowo," she said.

Despite her public support for Pramono, Nurhayati claimed she remained neutral. "I came here not as a campaign member for Pak Pramono. I am concentrating on my goal: to have 148 Democratic Party lawmakers reelected [in the 2014 general election]," she said.

Nurhayati said that only by securing the reelection, the party could nominate its presidential candidate. "If our lawmakers are not reelected, the Democratic Party can't nominate its own presidential candidate," she said.

Saan and Nurhayati's show of support for Pramono only reinforced speculation that Pramono received special treatment at the party's presidential convention. Pramono said there would be no preferential treatment at the convention.

"Some say that I am a member of Cikeas family," he said, referring to Yudhoyono's residential estate in Bogor, West Java. "[However,] I am participating in the primary just like any other candidate. I do not want [you] to have the perception that I receive special treatment from the President," Pramono said during the event.

The independent committee for the PD's presidential primary announced that 11 prospective candidates could advance to the next stage of the primary.

The candidates are Indonesian Ambassador to the United States Dino Patti Djalal; Paramadina University Rector Anis R. Baswedan; former military commander Gen. (ret) Endriartono Sutarto; member of the PD's advisory board, Hayono Isman; chairman of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD), Irman Gusman; Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan; former Army chief of staff Gen. (ret) Pramono Edhie Wibowo; North Sulawesi Governor Sinyo Harry Saroendajang; Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) deputy head Ali Masykur Musa; and House Speaker Marzuki Alie, who is also deputy chair of the PD's Supreme Council.

Speculation is rife, however, that the PD convention is merely just smoke and mirrors before the party goes ahead and appoints Pramono Edhie Wibowo, Yudhoyono's brother-in-law, as its candidate. Many have said he was preferred by the First Family and that the convention was staged to grant him the nomination.

Endriartono, one of the convention candidates, said he remained upbeat despite the party's growing support for Pramono. "[Pramono] Edhie is a Democratic Party member. It is natural for the party's executives to support him," he said on Sunday.

Endriartono, who left the Nasdem Party to join the convention, said he would focus on winning support from the public, rather than PD politicians.

The presidential candidate will be chosen based on public opinion polls. Thus, what matters most is people's voice, not that of party bigwigs," he continued.