REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SEMARANG - The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) would name its presidential nominees in April 2014, after the legislative elections, a senior PDI politician said.

"We will decide who will be nominated as next president and vice president in April 2014 after the legislative elections which will be held on April 9," Secretary General of the PDIP Executive Board Tjahjo Kumolo said in a text message on Sunday.

He denied a report saying that the party was to announce its sole presidential nominee in January coinciding with PDIPs anniversary.

"Its not true," he said.

According to Kumolo, his party, based on the decision of the PDIPs' national working meeting,  gave PDIP General Chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri the privilege on the selection of presidential nominees.

"When will be the best moment to declare (the nominees)? And, who will be selected as the presidential and vice presidential nominees? We leave it to Megawati to decide," Kumolo, a member of the parliament, said.

Until April 2014, the party's chairperson would be carefully following and monitoring the national and international political developments, he added. He quoted the results of survey agencies that named Megawati Soekarnoputri and Joko Widodo or Jokowi, the current Jakarta governor, as strong presidential nominees from PDIP. However, he added that his party would be very careful in making a decision on the nations future leader.

This year, legislative elections will be held on April 9, after a campaign period between January 11 and April 5, while the presidential election is expected to be held on July 9. Twelve national political parties and three local political parties of Aceh Province will participate in the upcoming elections. The number is much less than those in 2004 at 24 political parties, and in 2009 at 34.

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