PDIP To Announce Presidential Candidate After Legislative Elections

Jakarta, Jan 10 (Antara) - Indonesia`s opposition party chief Megawati Soekarnoputri has stated that PDIP (Indonesia Democratic Party Struggle) will announce its presidential candidate after the legislative elections scheduled on April 9. "People from inside and outside the party may say or give an analysis about who PDIP will nominate as presidential candidate," she noted at a ceremony marking the party`s 41st anniversary, here on Friday. She added that she has already stated that in line with the decision of the party`s congress in Bali in 2010 that had re-appointed her as the party`s general chairperson it would be her prerogative to determine who the party`s presidential candidate will be. "In line with the results of the congress, I, as the general chairperson have the right to name the candidate," she emphasized. Megawati explained that in the third national working meeting in September 2013, she had already stated that the nomination of PDIP`s presidential candidate will be determined only after the legislative elections. In view of that, she called on all party cadres and sympathizers and the general public to be patient while waiting for the right time. Commenting on other parties that have already named their presidential candidates the former president clarified that they certainly had their own strategies and considerations. PDIP meanwhile also has its own considerations and strategies regarding when to announce its presidential candidate, she reiterated. "Choosing a person to be a presidential candidate is not easy because the person will later lead this country with its huge natural and human resources," she pointed out. Megawati appealed to all party cadres not to get carried away by opinions from outside that had pushed for immediate declaration of PDIP`s candidate. She meanwhile urged cadres to work hard and concentrate on meeting the legislative elections so that they could get optimum votes. She also added that by working hard and being focused, she hoped that PDIP will be able to surpass the 20 percent presidential threshold. Jakarta governor Joko Widodo or Jokowi as he is popularly called has so far been touted as the best PDIP`s candidate. To be able to nominate its candidate PDIP has to win at least 20 seats in the House of Representatives or 25 percent votes or else it has to coalesce with other parties.