REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, DENPASAR -- Chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Megawati Soekarnoputri, used her prerogative right to appoint Joko Widodo or Jokowi as the presidential candidate for 2019 elections. Megawati called on all party members to support Jokowi with all power and resources owned by the party to win the next year's elections. 

"I hereby declare that the presidential candidate of PDI Perjuangan is Joko Widodo," Megawati said in a video posted on PDI Perjuangan's official Twitter account on Friday. 

She made the statement during the party's third national working meeting in Denpasar, Bali, held on the same day.

Chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Megawati Soekarnoputri holds Joko Widodo's hand after re-appointing him as the presidential candidate for 2019 election.

Her statement, however, contradicted the previous statement made by PDI Perjuangan's secretary general Hasto Kristiyanto, who had said that the national working meeting would not discuss candidates for presidential elections.

According to him, the party's 2015 congress has given a mandate to the chairwoman to appoint candidates for the posts of president and vice-president.

Chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Megawati Soekarnoputri holds Joko Widodo's hand after re-appointing him as the presidential candidate for 2019 election.

PDI Perjuangan has a deeply rooted democratic tradition imbued with the nation's personality, so that matters related to the announcement of national candidates will be presented in a special and politically filled design with a spirit of love for the country, Hasto noted.

Four political parties have already declared official support for Jokowi's re-election bid - Golkar Party, National Awakening Party (PKB), United Development Party (PPP), and NasDem Party.

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