Bogor. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo can now breathe a sigh of relief after Ganjar Pranowo was officially announced as the presidential candidate by the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) on Friday, as he needs a successor with determination to continue with major development programs by the current government.

Jokowi, who will complete his second term in October next year, will leave several unfinished programs, most notably the multi-billion dollar project to relocate the national capital to East Kalimantan.

The president was present when PDI-P Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri announced Ganjar’s nomination at Batu Tulis Palace in Bogor following an internal party meeting.

"The democratic succession of the national leadership is a must but political changes shouldn’t derail the continuity of our nationhood from time to time. The new leader must stick to the national vision and follow up [development] programs which have been started earlier," the president said.

"The national ideology Pancasila, national unity and harmony, and tolerance must continue to become the foundation of Indonesia. The fair distribution of prosperity and Indonesia-oriented development must become the spirit of the national development program,” said Jokowi, who has repeatedly said that infrastructure development should not heavily focus on Java Island.

He praised his party for picking Ganjar, who he described as a leader “who is close to the people, willing to interact with the grassroots, and very ideologic”.

Ganjar has publicly said that if elected president he will continue the works to relocate the national capital from Jakarta, saying the mega project has been stipulated under the law approved by the House of Representatives.

Jokowi shared the presidential car with his potential successor as they left Batu Tulis Palace after the conference.

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