Indonesian President: First Lady Will Not Run For 2014 Election

Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Democratic Party, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is also the President of Indonesia, asserted that the First Lady, Ani Yudhoyono, would not run for the 2014 Presidential Election. It was stated repeatedly in public in order to respond the speculation that the First Lady, Ani Yudhoyono, will run for the 2014 election.

President and First Lady of Indonesia

"If there is question whether Mrs. Ani Yudhoyono will move forward or whether the Democratic Party will propose Mrs. Ani, then the answer is 100 percent there was no such intension and plan. Both First Lady or myself have repeatedly express it to the people," Yudhoyono said during briefing and workshop for the Democratic Party candidates at the Hall C Arena Pekan Raya Jakarta, Thursday (15/12/2011).

Also attending the event, are the ranks of members of the board of supervisors, board of honor, the regulatory commission, the deputy chairman and deputy secretary general, leaders and members of the Democratic Party faction in Parliament, the executive director, the management ranks of the Democratic Party and the Democratic leaders throughout Indonesia.

During that occasion, Yudhoyono also emphasized that the Democratic Party have not determined any presidential candidate or vice presidential candidate for the 2014 elections. "Being a president really needs to get strong support from the people and the blessing of God, not merely only support from the party," he said.

"There is also question whether President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as an outgoing leader or a president whose presidential term will end soon, will support any candidate? That is not known yet. I was also asked whether there should be new 'face' in the 2014 presidential candidate? In my opinion, one of the values and spirit of democracy is equality of opportunity," said Yudhoyono.

Source: Kompas