Jakarta. Former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said on Sunday evening that he is waiting for endorsement from Megawati Soekarnoputri to move forward with his bid for reelection, as the registration deadline for candidates draws near.

Anies finds himself relying on an unexpected ally after all political parties, except Megawati’s Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), endorsed a rival candidate for the Jakarta gubernatorial election. Having missed the deadline for independent candidacy, his only path forward depends on PDI-P’s support.

In recognition of this, Anies met with PDI-P executives earlier in the week to seek their backing.

“It’s still under discussion. We’ll have to wait for my friends in PDI-P to receive direction from the chairwoman,” Anies told reporters when asked about the meeting’s outcome.

The registration period for party-affiliated candidates opens on Tuesday.

Anies initially won the Jakarta governorship in 2017, defeating incumbent Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, also known as Ahok, who had the backing of PDI-P. That election, marked by sectarian tensions, ultimately saw Ahok imprisoned on blasphemy charges initiated by Anies’ supporters.

This history makes PDI-P an unusual potential ally for Anies, but the party may also be in need of a popular figure to regain momentum after its losses in the recent presidential election and a significant reduction in its seats in the House of Representatives.

Polls suggest Anies remains a strong contender in the upcoming Jakarta gubernatorial race. Despite his defeat in the presidential election in February, he secured 25 percent of the vote -- a higher share than PDI-P’s candidate, Ganjar Pranowo. Notably, the three political parties that supported Anies’ presidential bid gained seats in the House.

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