Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) continues to seek coalition partners to secure a nomination ticket for Anies Baswedan and Hendrar Prihadi in the 2024 Jakarta Regional Election.
However, the prospects appear slim as most political parties have already joined the Coalition for Advanced Indonesia (KIM) Plus, which backs the Ridwan Kamil-Suswono ticket in the gubernatorial race.
"We are doing our best, engaging with other parties before Aug. 27, to find an opportunity. If successful, we will nominate Anies as the lead candidate and Hendrar as his running mate," said PDIP politician Said Abdullah during a press conference at the Parliament Complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Monday.
Said acknowledged that he had already communicated with Anies Baswedan regarding PDIP's potential endorsement of his candidacy for Jakarta governor. Despite this, he remains realistic about the situation, noting that the KIM Plus coalition is well-consolidated in supporting their candidates for Jakarta.
Said emphasized that PDIP respects the KIM Plus coalition's efforts, which leaves PDIP with no coalition partners for the Jakarta Regional Election.
"If, in the end, we are unable to proceed due to the strong consolidation of KIM Plus and lack of coalition partners, so be it. We will eventually inform the public, perhaps through our Secretary-General, that PDI P cannot field a candidate in the upcoming Jakarta Regional Election," Said concluded.
Twelve political parties have officially thrown their support behind Ridwan Kamil and Suswono as candidates for Governor and Deputy Governor of Jakarta in the 2024 regional elections, positioning them as leading contenders for the capital's highest offices.
The supporting parties include Gerindra, Golkar, PKS, Nasdem, PKB, PSI, PAN, Demokrat, Garuda, Gelora, Perindo, and PPP.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), which holds 15 seats in the Jakarta Regional House of Representatives (DPRD), is facing difficulties in nominating its own candidate. Current election laws require a minimum of 22 seats to nominate a candidate, forcing PDI-P to seek coalition partners. However, efforts to form a coalition with the National Awakening Party (PKB) have been hampered by PKB's decision to back Ridwan Kamil, making it increasingly unlikely that PDI-P will be able to put forward its own candidate.