Dems open to Jokowi participation in presidential candidacy

Sutan Bhatoegana, Democratic Party central executive board chief, said his party would welcome Jakarta Governor Joko "Jokowi" Widodo as one of the party's potential 2014 presidential candidates.

Sutan said as quoted by Tempo.co that an open candidacy will be carried out at its convention, to be held next month.

However, Jokowi's candidacy would depend on the governor's willingness to enlist as well as consent from rival Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Sutan said.

The PDI-P was the major party that backed Jokowi during his reign as the Surakarta mayor and his race for the Jakarta gubernatorial position.

"We are always open to form a possible coalition with the PDI-P," Sutan said.

Sutan said that his party had monitored the electability of other figures to participate in the convention. They include former Constitutional Court chief justice Mahfud MD, Minister of Trade Gita Wirjawan and House of Regional Representatives (DPD) speaker Irman Gusman.