Jakarta. The National Mandate Party, or PAN, gave another signal on Friday that it likely joins the coalition to support Ganjar Pranowo for the 2024 presidential election.

After the Central Java governor was nominated for president by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) in April, the Muslim-based United Development Party (PPP) became the first to align itself with the ruling party.

The coalition could grow even bigger after PAN Chairman Zulkifli Hasan visited the PDI-P headquarters in Jakarta to meet Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Ganjar, who was also present at the PDI-P headquarters, said he was hopeful that the meeting will convince the PAN to join his camp, adding he has confidence that other parties will come to support him since the PDI-P announced his nomination.

“I’m confident about that, and the more support the better,” he told reporters after the meeting.

“The discussion went beyond the topic of the presidential election because we also discussed about a strategic alliance.”

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Zulkifli has on several occasions expressed support for Ganjar’s nomination, as long as he picks State-Owned Enterprise Minister Erick Thohir as his running mate.

But he said on Friday a decision isn’t made yet pending internal discussion with other PAN executives.

Zulkifli added that further discussions will follow between his team and the PDI-P team led by House Speaker Puan Maharani, the daughter of Megawati.

“After we meet internally, our team will communicate with the PDI-P team led by Sister Puan,” he said.

During a joint press conference after the meeting, Megawati said the PDI-P is open to collaboration with other parties for the 2024 elections.

“Our door is open, we never restrict ourselves,” Megawati said.

The ruling party is slated to announce the running mate for Ganjar later this month.

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