Siswono set for presidential race<\/p>\n
CIREBON, West Java: Siswono Yudohusodo, a former minister,
\nspoke of his readiness on Sunday to contest the upcoming
\npresidential election. Speaking in the West Java town, Cirebon,
\nSiswono said that he had been nominated by at least three
\npolitical parties, namely the Indonesian Democratic Vanguard
\nParty (PPDI), the Marhaenisme Indonesian National Party (PNI
\nMarhaenisme) and the Indonesian Unity Party (PSI).<\/p>\n
Siswono acknowledged that the three parties garnered less than
\n5 percent of the total vote during the April 5 election.<\/p>\n
"They won only 1.97 percent of the vote, well below the 5
\npercent electoral threshold established in law.<\/p>\n
"However, I believe that I will pass the 5 percent threshold
\nto contest the presidential election," said Siswono, who is
\ncurrently the chairman of the Indonesian Farmers Association
\n(HKTI).<\/p>\n
He said that he had approached six other political parties to
\nseek their support for his presidential bid. "If all their votes
\nare merged, including the three parties above, then the total
\nvotes collected would reach 5.86 percent, which is above the
\nelectoral threshold," said Siswono, who once served as a minister
\nin the Soeharto era.<\/p>\n
He said that he was eyeing Sophan Sophiaan, a former
\nlegislator from the Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-
\nP) and Khofifah Indar Parawangsa, a former minister from the
\nNational Awakening Party (PKB), as potential running mates.<\/p>\n
Registration for president and vice president pairings will be
\nclosed on May 1. -- JP<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/siswono-set-for-presidential-race-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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