Asked About His Name As The Idol Candidate For Nasdem DPW, Anies Just Raised His Thumbs Up

DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan/PHOTO: Diah Ayu-VOI

JAKARTA - DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan only smiled when asked about his name, which was chosen by the Nasdem Party Regional Leadership Council (DPW) to be promoted as a presidential candidate for 2024.

After attending the national gathering and national meeting of the Middle East Alumni Association in Indonesia (JATTI) at the Grand Cempaka Hotel, Central Jakarta, Friday, June 17, Anies did not answer the question.

Until he got into his car before leaving the location, Anies only gave a thumbs up when he was again mentioned about him being the idol candidate for the majority Nasdem DPW.

As is known, as many as 34 Regional Leadership Councils (DPW) of the NasDem Party proposed the names of presidential candidates in the NasDem National Working Meeting at JCC Senayan, South Jakarta on Thursday, June 16.

The majority proposed the names of DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan and Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo. Apart from these two names, the Minister of SOEs Erick Thohir and the Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, General Andika Perkasa, were the most mentioned. Of the 34 DPWs present, the name Anies was proposed by 31 DPWs. The vote for Ganjar is also only slightly different from Anies, which is 29 DPW. Meanwhile, Erick's name has been proposed for more than 15 DPW and Andika has more than 10 DPW. Apart from these four names, the names of the candidates for president proposed by the regions that are widely mentioned are the Governor of West Java Ridwan Kamil, and the Governor of East Java Khofifah Indar Parawansa. Meanwhile, the internal NasDem cadres who have been mentioned include the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rachmat Gobel, the Deputy Chair of the MPR Lestari Moeridjat, to the Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo.

Chairman of the NasDen Party, Surya Paloh, welcomed the aspirations of DPW-DPWs throughout Indonesia regarding the selection of presidential candidates to be promoted in the 2024 General Election.

To note, this time the NasDem Party did not open a presidential candidate convention. However, each DPW is allowed to choose 3 names that they want to carry in the upcoming 2024 presidential election. Later the top 3 names will be determined one to be carried as a presidential candidate.

Paloh said NasDem had not considered internal names to be put forward in the presidential election. Similar to the determination of Anies or Ganjar, Surya asked all parties to wait for the decision of the National Working Meeting.

"We'll see," said Paloh. So far, said Paloh, his party has not seriously discussed the presidential candidate with the figures whose names appeared in the NasDem National Working Meeting. Although, there are plans to meet the mentioned parties. "Indeed there is a discourse, there has never been anything like this before. Maybe after it is announced tomorrow, you will see. Then I will think about what is positive. Next time there will be a wider perspective from the NasDem discussion, emphasizing aspects of quality and responsibility as well as strong leadership," he explained.