Jakarta. The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has unveiled its gubernatorial and vice-gubernatorial candidates for the 2024 Regional Elections. However, among the six pairs of candidates announced on Monday, the anticipated nomination of former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan was notably absent.

Said Abdullah, a member of PDI-P's leadership board, indicated that the party had chosen Anies Baswedan as its candidate for the upcoming Jakarta gubernatorial election. Rumors circulated that Anies would be paired with actor and former Banten Governor Rano Karno.

However, PDI-P Treasurer Olly Dondokambey contradicted these reports, stating that it would be Cabinet Secretary and Senior PDI-P Politician Pramono Anung who would run as Jakarta Governor alongside Rano Karno.

When asked for clarification, PDI-P's Central Executive Board Chairman Djarot Saiful Hidayat did not confirm whether Anies-Rano or Pramono-Rano would be the chosen pair. He emphasized that the decision regarding the Jakarta gubernatorial race ultimately rests with PDI-P Chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri.

"In strategic regions, it is within the authority of Megawati. So, we fully entrust her to exercise her prerogative," Djarot said at the PDI-P headquarters on Jalan Diponegoro, Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Monday.

Djarot acknowledged that there is internal support within PDI-P for Pramono Anung and Rano Karno in the Jakarta gubernatorial race. He also assured that PDI-P has no shortage of qualified candidates for the Jakarta election.

"There are aspirations. We've gathered aspirations from the grassroots, including names like Rano Karno, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok), Adian Napitupulu, Eriko Sotarduga, Prasetyo Edi Marsudi, and even Andika Perkasa," Djarot listed, referring to prominent PDI-P figures.

Djarot urged the public to be patient, as the official announcement of PDI-P's gubernatorial and vice-gubernatorial candidates for Jakarta would be made by Megawati in the next two to three days.

In addition to Jakarta, Djarot mentioned that PDI-P has not yet decided on candidates for the gubernatorial races in West Java and East Java. "We will announce who will run in Jakarta, West Java, and East Java in 1-2 days," Djarot concluded.

Anies, who missed the deadline for an independent candidacy, turned to PDI-P as his last chance for a spot on the Nov. 27 ballot, after all major parties chose former West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil as their candidate.

Until recently, PDI-P couldn't nominate a candidate due to not meeting the required 22-seat threshold in the Jakarta legislature. The party's chance was revived by a Constitutional Court ruling that lowered this threshold.

Anies previously won the Jakarta governorship in 2017 by defeating Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok), who had PDI-P's support. The election, marked by sectarian tensions, led to Ahok’s imprisonment on blasphemy charges influenced by Anies’ supporters. Despite this history, PDI-P is now aligning with Anies to regain momentum after recent electoral setbacks and a reduction in its House of Representatives seats.

Here are the six gubernatorial and vice-gubernatorial candidates officially endorsed by PDI-P for the 2024 Regional Elections:

1. North Sulawesi: Steven Kandouw and Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Alfred Denny Djoike Tuejeh
2. Banten: Airin Rachmi Diany and Ade Sumardi
3. Central Java: Andika Perkasa and Hendrar Prihadi (Hendi)
4. Gorontalo: Hamzah Isa and Andurrahman Abubakar Bahmid
5. East Nusa Tenggara (NTT): Yohanis Fransiskus Lema and Jane Natalia Suryanto
6. North Kalimantan: Andi Sulaiman and Andri Partono

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