Siswono set for presidential race

CIREBON, West Java: Siswono Yudohusodo, a former minister, spoke of his readiness on Sunday to contest the upcoming presidential election. Speaking in the West Java town, Cirebon, Siswono said that he had been nominated by at least three political parties, namely the Indonesian Democratic Vanguard Party (PPDI), the Marhaenisme Indonesian National Party (PNI Marhaenisme) and the Indonesian Unity Party (PSI).

Siswono acknowledged that the three parties garnered less than 5 percent of the total vote during the April 5 election.

"They won only 1.97 percent of the vote, well below the 5 percent electoral threshold established in law.

"However, I believe that I will pass the 5 percent threshold to contest the presidential election," said Siswono, who is currently the chairman of the Indonesian Farmers Association (HKTI).

He said that he had approached six other political parties to seek their support for his presidential bid. "If all their votes are merged, including the three parties above, then the total votes collected would reach 5.86 percent, which is above the electoral threshold," said Siswono, who once served as a minister in the Soeharto era.

He said that he was eyeing Sophan Sophiaan, a former legislator from the Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI- P) and Khofifah Indar Parawangsa, a former minister from the National Awakening Party (PKB), as potential running mates.

Registration for president and vice president pairings will be closed on May 1. -- JP