Siswono announces presidential bid

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