TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Former Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (BTP) or Ahok said he was willing to run as a presidential candidate in the 2024 election if there are no proper candidates. He joked about his current workplace that was near Merdeka Palace on Jalan Medan Merdeka Utara, Central Jakarta.

“My office is now at Merdeka Timur (Pertamina’s building), closer to Merdeka Utara (State Merdeka Palace), while Anies Baswedan’s office is still on Merdeka Selatan (Jakarta City Hall). He is far [from the palace],” said the chief commissioner of Pertamina while laughing.

Ahok explained that he did not have a target to run in the next presidential election. He expressed doubts there would be political parties daring to endorse him as he was a former convict.

In the 2024 Presidential Election, there will certainly be no incumbent candidate since the current President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo was serving his second term in office.

Several names have started to emerge as possible candidates, such as Anies Baswedan, Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, House speaker Puan Maharani, West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil, and Prabowo among others.

Supports for Anies to be the next presidential candidate had been voiced by Gerakan Persaudaraan Muslim Indonesia Jakarta. However, they canceled the event of ‘Anies Baswedan for President 2024’ declaration planned to take place on Jalan Inspeksi Kali Mookevart, Semanan, West Jakarta, on Sunday, February 16.

LANI DIANA WIJAYA