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PAN mulls coalition with PDI-P, PPP in Jakarta election
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The chairman of National Mandate Party (PAN), Zulkifli Hasan (center), greets the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri (right) with Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan (left) looking on during the opening of PAN's National Meeting at the JIExpo in Kemayoran on Sunday. (Antara/Rosa Panggabean)
T
he National Mandate Party (PAN) is considering to form a coalition with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and the United Development Party (PPP) to support their candidate in the 2017 Jakarta Gubernatorial Election.
The party had conducted meetings and talks for next year’s election for the capital's top post, PAN chairman Zulkifli Hasan said on Sunday. He had met with PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri and PPP Chairman M. Romahurmuzy.
PAN needed to collaborate with other political parties as it could not designate its own candidate for the governorship. PAN only has two seats in the Jakarta City Council, whereas a political party or coalition needs at least 21 seats to support a candidate.
However, the communications PAN made with the PDI-P and the PPP was still at a preliminary stage, Zulkifli said.
"We are still in early communications with the PDI-P, the PPP and the PKB [The National Awekening Party]," said the chairman of People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) on Sunday evening at the sidelines of PAN's National Meeting as quoted by kompas.com.
Presently, only Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama has publicly announced that he will run for a second term in the election next year. Pairing with Heru Budi Hartono, a civil servant of the city, Ahok chose to be on an independent ticket with no political parties backing his candidacy.
Several public figures have shown their interest in the prestigious post such as former Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, businessman Sandiaga Uno and former Legal and Human Rights Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra. However, no official announcements have been made by the would-be candidates. (rin)
