REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Islam-based United Development Party (PPP) is set to name its presidential candidate early February.

"PPP will hold a national working meeting early February to discuss, among others, the criteria and names of its presidential candidate," PPP Chairman Suryadharma Ali said after a working meeting with the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission VIII at the parliament building here on Thursday.

The national working meeting which would he held on February 7 or 8 would discuss the criteria of the party's presidential candidate proposed by party cadres, he said.

Asked if the party would nominate him for the presidency, he said: "I cannot say it right now as the criteria and names of the party's presidential candidate will be discussed only at the national working meeting."

Suryadharma Ali, who is also the religious affairs minister, said whether or not he would be nominated for the presidency depended on the decision of the national meeting.

He went on to say he was optimistic that PPP would gain 12 percent of votes in the 2014 legislative election due in part to the comeback of senior Muslim clerics to the party.

"If all cadres work harder and remain solid, PPP's votes will increase significantly," he said.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika