Jokowi Holds Ongoing Discussions on Criteria for His Vice-Presidential Candidate

Jakarta, (Antaranews Sumbar) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is still holding discussions on the criteria for the vice-presidential candidate, who will contest the 2019 general elections along with him. "We are still discussing the criteria," President Jokowi noted here on Tuesday. The statement was delivered after the president inaugurated a factory to manufacture raw materials for medicines and biological products owned by PT Kalbio Global Medika, which is a subsidiary of PT Kalbe Farma Tbk in Cikarang. The head of state further noted that the criteria will be discussed along with his supporting parties. During the third National Congress, Megawati Soekarnoputri, the general chairperson of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), exercised her prerogative right to rename Jokowi as the party's presidential hopeful for the 2019-2024 period. Megawati called on all party members to support Jokowi by using all power and resources of the party to win next year's elections. Eight political parties that have already declared their official support to Jokowi's re-election bid are the Golkar Party, National Awakening Party, United Development Party, NasDem Party, Indonesian Solidarity Party, Hanura Party, Perindo, and the Indonesian Justice and Unity Party . President Jokowi had earlier expressed gratitude to the PDIP for officially nominating him as presidential candidate for the 2019-2024 term. Jokowi noted that the spirit of self-reliance was reinforced through the message of the PDIP general chairperson, especially in the areas of food, energy, defense, and finance. Meanwhile, the General Election Commission (KPU) had decided on Saturday (Feb 17) to clear 14 political parties as eligible electoral contestants for the 2019 general elections. "The KPU has conducted administrative examinations and factual verification of the political parties as contestant candidates for the 2019 general elections," KPU Chairman Arief Budiman noted. Budiman noted that 16 political parties were verified of which two failed. The 14 political parties approved by the KPU are the National Mandate Party, Working Party, PDIP, Democratic Party, Great Indonesia Movement Party, Garuda Party, Golkar Party, and People's Conscience Party, Prosperous Justice Party, Nasdem Party, Perindo Party, United Development Party, National Awakening Party, and Indonesian Solidarity Party. Crescent and Star Party and Indonesian Justice and Unity Party were the two political parties that had failed to pass the KPU selection. (*)