Former President and ruling party chairwoman Megawati, daughter of Indonesia’s Founding Father Sukarno, made the announcement today. An unknown factor is the possibility that the son of current President Joko Widodo might run with former general Prabowo Subianto (who challenged Widodo in a previous election).
Jakarta (AsiaNews) – Indonesia’s current Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mohammad Mahfud Mahmodin, usually referred to as Mahfud MD, will be the running mate of Ganjar Pranowo, the former governor of Central Java, who is the candidate for the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) in the upcoming presidential election (14 February 2024).
PDI-P Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, a former president and daughter of Indonesia’s Founding Father Sukarno, made the announcement during a press briefing at the party's headquarters. "He is a qualified intellectual," she said, referring to Mahfud MD as he and Mr Pranowo entered the venue together.
The leaders of PDI-P allies were present at the press briefing: Hary Tanoesoedibjo of the Indonesian Unity Party (Perindo),[*] Osman Sapta Odang of the People's Conscience Party (Hanura),[†] and Muhamad Mardiono of the United Development Party (PPP).[‡]
“It took a very long time before I finally tapped Prof Mahfud MD to become the potential VP in the coming election. He is the best choice to fill the post due to his longstanding experience in the government,” Megawati said at the press conference today.
“After long contemplation, I confirm today Prof Mahfud as our best choice to accompany Mr. Ganjar Pranowo as Indonesia’s next VP and President respectively,” added the fifth president of Indonesia.
Meanwhile, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo was in Beijing for the 3rd Belt and Road Forum summit, and so could not attend the launch of Mahfud MD’s candidacy. For this reason, his absence is not considered "not supporting" the party’s choice.
The announcement follows the decision by Indonesia’s Constitutional Court (Mahkamah Konstitusi) to allow people over 40 to run for president and vice-president in the 2024 elections.
This outraged many Indonesians since it would make Gibran Rakabuming, the current mayor of Surakarta in Central Java and eldest son of outgoing President Jokowi, eligible to be the vice-presidential running mate of General Prabowo Subianto (Retd).
For now, it is unclear whether Subianto will pick Gibran; many observers view Erick Thohir, Minister of State-Owned Enterprises in Jokowi's cabinet (and a former president of Italy’s Inter Milan football club) as another potential candidate.
Currently, three alliances are vying for the top spots in next year's presidential elections: the nationalist PDIP and its allies, Perindo, Hanura and PPP (backing Ganjar Pranowo and Mahfud MD); the nationalist National Democratic Party (NasDem) and its allies (backing Anies Baswedan and Muhaimin Iskandar); and the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra)[§] and its allies (backing Prabowo Subianto).
[*] Partai Persatuan Indonesia.
[†] Partai Hati Nurani Rakyat.
[‡] Partai Persatuan Pembangunan.
[§] Gerakan Indonesia Raya.