Anies Baswedan has appeared to be a potential candidate for the 2024 Jakarta gubernatorial election under the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle’s (PDI-P) ticket.
PDI-P Election Campaign Team Spokesperson Chico Hakim said that Anies’ name was mentioned by members of the party’s grassroots.
“In addition to internal names, Governor Anies Baswedan has been mentioned by the party’s provincial and regency/city branches,” Chico said on Friday, May 31, 2024.
Anies joins a list of internal PDI-P candidates, including Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, Djarot Saiful Hidayat, Prasetyo Edi Marsudi, Charles Honoris, and Andika Perkasa.
Chico emphasized that PDI-P prioritizes internal candidates for the gubernatorial race but remains pragmatic. If circumstances necessitate, internal candidates might be positioned as vice governor candidates instead.
“We are realistic about the situation and the chances of winning,” he said.
He said further that with significant numbers of party seats in the Jakarta Provincial Legislative Council (DPRD), PDI-P is not pressured to seek numerous coalition partners, but confirmed that it has been building communications with other political parties regarding the Jakarta gubernatorial election.
Anies expressed appreciation for PDI-P’s openness to his candidacy despite the party being a competitor in the 2024 presidential race.
“I highly appreciate it. For us, cross-group and cross-party openness signifies a shared concern for Jakarta’s and Indonesia’s future,” Anies said during his birthday celebration in Jakarta on May 7, 2024.
