Businessman and Indonesian Unity Party Chairman Hary Tanoesoedibjo becomes the headline today as his party's secretary general, Ahmad Rofiq, stated that Hary is considering to support President Joko Widodo in the upcoming 2019 presidential election.
"The chairman [told us to tell the]public that Perindo Party is considering nominate and support Jokowi as the presidential candidate," said Ahmad on Wednesday.
The support would be officially announced during the party's national leadership meeting that is going to be held later this year.
"It's certainly a big decision and an institution's resolution [generally] will be finalized through second [term] of national meeting by the end of this year," he said.
Hary's maneuver was surely unforeseen as he and his party had been known to always take a role of opposition in government. Hary himself has been known to eye the presidential or vice presidential seat for years.
When asked the motive behind the sudden move, Rofiq answered, "Because the main mission of Perindo is to be a part of nation's progress. Thus, we'll see which presidential candidate that is possible to share similar vision [to us] and Jokowi suits us and our vision."