Jakarta. The National Awakening Party, of PKB, insisted on Monday that Chairman Muhaimin Iskandar must become a candidate for president or vice president in the 2024 election -- a stance that could jeopardize the coalition.

In a meeting at the PKB headquarters in Central Jakarta, the leaders of the party concluded that they will stick to an earlier decision taken during the national congress in Bali.

"The leadership board asks the PKB to hold firm on the decision taken during the Bali congress that Muhaimin should contest as a presidential candidate or a running mate," PKB executive Yusuf Chudlori told reporters after the meeting.

Yusuf said there is “no alternative” available other than making Muhaimin a candidate.

The PKB has forged a coalition with the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), which nominated Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto for president.

Monday’s announcement sends a strong signal to Gerindra that the coalition could end prematurely unless Muhaimin is picked as Prabowo’s running mate.

Without the PKB, Gerindra won’t meet the threshold of at least 20 percent of House of Representatives seats to be eligible to nominate a candidate.

But Muhaimin has not reached the level of popularity that could make him a favorable candidate for the veep. He is ranked below more popular figures for the ticket mate like football association chief Erick Thohir, West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil, or Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno according to many polls.

"The PKB maintains the confidence that Gerindra is honoring our relationship and shared commitment until the 2024 elections with mutual respect," Yusuf said.

"We employ positive thinking about Gerindra’s commitment [to picking Muhaimin as running mate]. Mister Prabowo as a respected figure will certainly defend his honor by maintaining respect for a friend with whom he built a coalition for the first time," he added.

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