Jakarta. The Golkar Party has said political parties outside of the House of Representatives should not be eligible in proposing candidates for the 2019 presidential election, citing previous regulations.

Golkar chairman Setya Novanto said only the 10 political parties currently in the House of Representatives should be permitted to propose presidential candidate pairs.

“For us, it is better to have only those [parties] in the House of Representatives. Those who just joined the [legislative] election should not [be allowed],” Setya said during a workshop in Jakarta on Tuesday evening (13/12).

The House speaker said the limitation would be in line with requirements needed to nominate presidential candidates.

Setya pointed to 2014 requirements, which said political parties could propose candidates only if they hold 20 percent of the House or more, effectively a minimum requirement of having received 25 million votes nationally.

A coalition of parties unable to make the minimum was acceptable in 2014.

“This is what we will discuss in the general elections law revision. I have communicated with several party leaders on this issue, hopefully it goes well,” Setya said.

The workshop was also attended by Golkar’s advisory board chairman Aburizal Bakrie, board of experts chairman Agung Laksono, deputy chairman of the ethics council Akbar Tanjung and several leaders of Golkar’s central leadership board.