REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - The ruling Democratic Party will hold primary election or convention to pick one presidential candidate before general election.

"Seven candidates will compete in primary election," the Chairman of Democratic Party and also the President of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) said on late Saturday during informal talks with editors in chief from several media in the resident of Minister of Industry, MS Hidayat.

SBY said that unlike other parties, the ruling party had not picked any presidential candidate. "PAN endorses Hatta Rajasa, Golkar nominates Aburizal Bakrie, Gerinda proposes Prabowo Subianto, while Hanura has Wiranto," SBY said.

He explained that the primary election would take at least eight months. Democratic Party is expected to have a presidential candidate by the end of 2013. "The system will be semi-open," he said.

SBY said that he would allow people to choose the presidential candidate. However, the party is still working out with the method. He hopes the candidate comes from civilian, while vice president from military.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika