Jakarta. Former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan warned his supporters that the upcoming presidential election will become an uphill battle for his camp in a video message released on Saturday, a day after the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, or PDIP, announced poll leader Ganjar Pranowo as their candidate.

But Anies, who is nominated by the National Democratic Party (Nasdem), said he believes that the 2024 election can still be won with hard work. 

“We are faced with a strong opponent who has more than enough resources to join and even win a competition. The struggle ahead won’t be easy,” Anies said.

The former Jakarta governor urged his supporters to fight with “sincere determination and work harder and more seriously” to win the election.

He also said that a political opponent is not an adversary and that his supporters must employ graceful manners in the competition.

Unlike Ganjar, Anies will have to wait until Nasdem builds a coalition with other parties with at least 20 percent of House of Representatives seats combined to get his name on the ballot next year.

The PDI-P is the only party that meets the 20 percent threshold to nominate its own candidate.