REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo visited the General Election Commission (KPU) office here on Monday. He checked its readiness for receiving the registrations of presidential and vice presidential candidate pairs.
His arrival was warmly welcomed by the commission chief, Arief Budiman, and other commissioners. They then accompanied Tjahjo to observe the registration venue as well as a transit room for the candidate pairs and room for them to submit their registration documents.
"Technically, we have been well prepared," Arief said, adding that the KPU personnel are ready for receiving the presidential and vice presidential candidate pairs to register.
Tjahjo looked happy with the preparation made by the commission. He said that even a minor accident causing the KPU building's glass window to break, which had never occurred in the past during the registration process of political parties, should be avoided.
"Everyone should be disciplined and respect the law and order. No one is allowed to intervene with the KPU's works," he noted.
As of Monday, or the third day of registration process for the presidential and vice presidential pairs of Indonesia's 2019 election that the KPU has officially opened, none of the presidential and vice presidential candidate pairs showed up to register. Tjahjo stated that all presidential candidates remain in a process of determining their most potential running mates.
He stated that they would likely register themselves on the same day prior to the deadline.
Vice President Jusuf Kalla had earlier forecast that the presidential and vice presidential candidate pairs for the 2019 election would also register themselves as the closing day draws to a close on Aug 10. Kalla himself still awaits a decision from the Constitutional Court's (MK's) panel of judges on the judicial review of the 2017 Elections Law's chapter on the requirements for presidential and vice presidential candidates. The court's decision will determine his political steps in future.
Also read: Time of his registration to KPU, Jokowi: Just wait patiently
Incumbent President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has decided to compete in next year's presidential race. For this purpose, he has gained support from the leaders of the People's Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), Golkar Party, National Awakening Party (PKB), Muslim-based United Development Party (PPP), National Democrat Party (Nasdem), and the People's Conscience Party (Hanura).
The five coalition party leaders have even given him the leeway to pick up the most potential vice presidential candidate. Kalla's name is very much likely in Jokowi's pocket because he is believed to be able to strengthen the incumbent president's electability.
Many political analysts have predicted that Gerindra chief patron Prabowo Subianto may again become Jokowi's toughest rival in the 2019 presidential race. He has, so far, been viewed as the only figure, whose name has officially been supported by the leaders of his coalition parties, including the Muslim-based Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and National Mandate Party (PAN).
Prabowo has also won the Democratic Party leader Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's official support for becoming the coalition parties' presidential candidate. In the 2014 presidential election, the Democratic Party did not coalesce with Gerindra, PKS, and PAN.
Along with its coalition parties, the Prabowo camp has been attempting to look for a credible figure to be the vice presidential candidate. Ustaz Abdul Somad Batubara, a popular preacher with millions of followers across Indonesia, has frequently been mentioned as Subianto's most potential running mate.
In response to the decision made by the ulemas and figures representing different parts of Indonesia at their meeting in Jakarta from July 27 to 29, 2018, the preacher, commonly known as UAS, has shown his reluctance, arguing that he was not an appropriate figure for the vice presidential candidacy.
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