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Jokowi coalition agrees on VP candidate

Jakarta Post - July 24, 2018

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Jakarta – The six political parties standing behind President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's reelection bid have agreed on a vice-presidential candidate after party leaders met with the President at Bogor Palace on Monday evening.

The meeting was attended by Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, Nasdem Party chairman Surya Paloh, Golkar Party chairman Airlangga Hartarto, United Development Party (PPP) chairman Muhammad Romahurmuziy, National Awakening Party (PKB) chairman Muhaimin Iskandar and Hanura Party chairman Oesman Sapta Odang.

It was the first time all the coalition party leaders have sat together since they declared their support for Jokowi.

"The coalition is unanimous, [the vice-presidential candidate] is in the president's hands. There is only one name left," Oesman said after the meeting as quoted by kompas.com. "It will probably [be announced] in one or two weeks to avoid speculation."

Airlangga said the President would decide when to announce the candidate's name. "It is unlikely to happen in the near future because this is connected to political strategy, and of course, we have different ways of communicating to the public," he said.

"[The vice-presidential candidate] will most likely be announced on the last day of [presidential] candidate registration, not on the first day," Romahurmuziy said as quoted by tempo.co, adding that there would be a follow-up meeting soon.

"There will definitely be another meeting after this one. God willing, at the beginning of August we will be together again," he said.

A photo of the meeting was posted on Jokowi's official Instagram account with a caption reading: "The nation's problems cannot be solved by just one or two people. Togetherness and unity is an important asset for the nation at this time." (kmt)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2018/07/24/jokowi-coalition-agrees-on-vp-candidate.html.