Jakarta. Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa on Tuesday announced his resignation from the cabinet to run alongside Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto.
“According to the regulations, public officials such as ministers have to resign from their positions if they want to join the presidential and vice presidential elections. I have received the president’s blessing,” Hatta said at a press conference in Jakarta.
He said he submitted his resignation yesterday and spoke to the president in person earlier today.
He said the official announcement of his candidacy would come on Wednesday, after a meeting of his party’s leadership.
Hatta is chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN), which won 7.59 percent of the vote in the April 9 legislative elections. Gerindra won 11.81 percent.
Source/Fuente: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/hatta-steps-join-prabowos-presidenti...
