Dems continue to test potential candidates

Margareth S. Aritonang, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | National | Wed, August 28 2013, 7:41 AM

The independent selection committee to shortlist presidential candidates for the Democratic Party interviewed more prospective candidates on Tuesday, including rector of Paramadina University Anies Baswedan; Regional Representatives Council (DPD) Speaker Irman Gusman; Democratic Party senior lawmaker Hayono Isman; and former Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. (ret) Endriartono Sutarto.

Anies was the first to show up for the interview on Tuesday.

The university rector said that in spite of the public distrust of the ruling party, after numerous graft allegations had colored its reputation, he decided to join the race to help improve the country.

“I see this as a calling as well as a responsibility. It’s not about becoming president. It’s more about fulfilling the promise of the country’s independence; to protect and educate [the people] as well as to uphold justice,” Anies told reporters.

Anies further said he would meet all the conditions required by the Democratic Party convention committee.

He declined to comment on whether he would join the party if he was selected as one of the 15 primary participants. “I would remain a regular citizen during the process,” he said.

The preliminary examination on Tuesday was the second session held by an independent selection committee after Indonesian Ambassador to the United States Dino Patti Djalal was interviewed on Saturday.

More figures are expected to participate in the examination session on Wednesday.

Although the convention committee has yet to disclose the names of the participants, some figures that have received invitations include House of Representatives’ (DPR) Speaker Marzuki Alie; Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan; former Army chief of staff Gen. (ret) Pramono Edhie Wibowo, who is also a brother-in-law of Democratic Party chairman President Susilo Bambang Yudhyono; and North Sulawesi Governor Sinyo Harry Sarundajang.

Additional rumored figures include former vice president Jusuf Kalla; former Constitutional Court justice Mahfud MD; State-Owned Enterprises Minister Dahlan Iskan; Central Java Deputy Governor Rustriningsih; and East Kutai Regent Isran Noor.

A member of the selection committee Effendi Ghazali, a political analyst, said the committee was expected to publicly announce the results of the examination by Sept. 15.

“We will also announce where the money to fund this convention would come from,” he said.

If selected, candidates will be allowed to begin their political campaign, which would run through December. They will go through a first survey early next year in order to review their electability.

Another survey will take place in April to select the final candidate for the 2014 presidential election, which is slated for June.

Separately, Democratic Party deputy chairperson and leader of the party faction at the House of Representatives, Nurhayati Ali Assegaf, said that the party would intensively promote the selected candidates to the public prior to the election.

“I believe that the candidate, whoever they may be, can compete with Jokowi in terms of popularity,” she said, referring to popular Jakarta Governor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
Photo caption:  May the best man win: Rector of Paramadina University Anies Baswedan (center), flanked by the Democratic Party spokesman Hinca Panjaitan (left) and member of the independent committee tasked with drawing up a shortlist of presidential candidates for the party, Effendi Ghazali (right), speaks to the media after being interviewed by the committee on Tuesday. Anies is one of 15 prospective candidates invited to join the party primary. (JP/Wendra Ajistyatama)

Note from AMINEF:  Anies Baswedan and Effendi Ghazali are Fulbright program alumni.