TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Syafii Maarif, chairman of the presidential fact-finding team (known as Tim 9 - Team 9), said that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has accepted the team's feedback to scrap Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan's candidacy as the Chief of the National Police. During a meeting with Jokowi, Syafii added, the president said that he will carry out the recommendation given by the team.
"Budi Gunawan's withdrawal from the candidacy is pretty much possible. But the legal process and resolution [for the case] are rather complicated," Syafii told journalists at the State Palace on Wednesday, January 28, 2015.
Syafii revealed that Jokowi will release an official statement on the issue by the end of January.
Earlier, Syamsuddin Haris, a political researcher from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, said on Wednesday, January 14, 2015, that Jokowi might be influenced by his boss at the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Megawati Soekarnoputri.
Mega's influence had been apparent when PDI-P approved Budi's candidacy, although Jokowi had heard about Budi's illicit bank account.
"Jokowi might not be able to refuse [Budi's candidacy]," Syamsuddin said.
Syamsuddin added that Jokowi could not escape from Megawati's influence because he needed political support at the House of Representatives to pass the State Budget.
MUHAMMAD MUHYIDDIN | TIM TEMPO
