Jakarta. Anies Baswedan seemed unlikely to seek reelection as Jakarta's governor, with most parties backing a rival candidate, until a pivotal ruling by the Constitutional Court on Tuesday. The court lowered the parliamentary threshold, allowing individual parties to nominate candidates, potentially opening the door for Anies.

Anies now looks to an unexpected ally for support: the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the only major party yet to officially endorse a candidate for the Jakarta gubernatorial race.

In 2017, Anies defeated PDI-P’s candidate, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, also known as Ahok, in a contentious election marked by sectarian divisions. Ahok, the incumbent governor at the time, was later imprisoned for blasphemy after mass protests led by conservative Muslim groups.

Now a PDI-P executive, Ahok recently remarked that it was improbable for the party to support Anies. However, on Tuesday, PDI-P Secretary-General Hasto Kristiyanto hinted that an alliance was not off the table, saying that “nothing is impossible.” He confirmed that the party had opened lines of communication with Anies after the court's ruling.

PDI-P executive Ahmad Basarah had spoken with Anies on Monday about the upcoming election, Hasto said. "So, stay tuned," he added.

Despite past political differences and concerns over Anies’ perceived ties to hardline Muslim clerics, his popularity remains a strong draw for PDI-P. The party, which recently lost the presidential election and saw its parliamentary share drop, may see Anies as a way to regain ground.

Recent polls show Anies as the frontrunner for the Jakarta gubernatorial race.

“Any leader with significant public support deserves consideration, and that's precisely what PDI-P is weighing,” Hasto said.

Before the court's decision, a party or coalition needed at least 25 percent of the popular vote or 22 seats in Jakarta's legislature to nominate a candidate. Anies’ prospects seemed dim when 12 parties endorsed former West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil for the race.

PDI-P, with only 15 seats in Jakarta’s legislature, had previously been unable to field a candidate. 

However, the Constitutional Court’s ruling reduced the threshold to 7.5 percent of the popular vote in provinces with populations between 6 million and 12 million, like Jakarta. This change allows PDI-P to nominate a candidate without forming a coalition.

The deadline for candidate registration is August 29.

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