Siswono announces presidential bid

JAKARTA: Former cabinet minister Siswono Yudohusodo has turned down his nomination as presidential candidate by two Golkar- affiliated organizations for the tiny Love the Peaceful Nation Advocacy Party (PDKB Party), a splinter group of the Love the Nation Democratic Party (PDKB).

"I have to save my energy to introduce myself to the public as a presidential candidate. If I join the Golkar convention I will have to meet the party constituents across the country first, which will take a lot of energy," Siswono, who chairs the Indonesian Farmers Association (HKTI), said while announcing his presidential bid on Friday.

Golkar's main supporting organizations Soksi and Kosgoro 1957 have nominated Siswono as their presidential candidate, enabling Siswono to join the convention to select the party's sole candidate for the landmark direct presidential election next year.

Siswono said he and his team of success were drafting his political platform.

He expressed guarded optimism about his chances of winning the presidency, saying the direct presidential election would allow people to vote for any candidate, regardless of their political affiliation. -- Antara