Ex-minister Terawan Withdraws from Ambassadorial Candidacy: House Deputy Speaker

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - House deputy speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad has confirmed former health minister Terawan Agus Putranto had abandoned his candidacy to become the next Indonesian ambassador to Spain.

“Yes, I heard that Terawan had given up his candidacy to become the ambassador to Spain. I think it is his right. And perhaps the government could immediately come up with a new proposal to replace doctor Terawan," he said on Friday, May 21, 2021.

Tempo tried to seek confirmation from Terawan via phone call and text message, but to no avail.

As reported in Tempo Magazine published March 24, 2021, four government officials who were aware of Terawan’s candidacy said the radiologist withdrew his candidacy as he sought to focus on the development of the Nusantara vaccine.

The House speaker received the presidential letter regarding the 31 candidate names in February, but the House has yet to hold a fit-and-proper test for the candidates.

Later on, the House said it had received another presidential letter containing the latest list of candidates, as announced by deputy speaker Muhaimin Iskandar in yesterday’s plenary session. However, the names were not revealed.

“Letter number R/19/Pres/04/2021 dated April 29, 2021 regarding the Request of Deliberation of the Candidacy of Indonesian Ambassador with Plenipotentiary Powers to Friendly Country,” Muhaimin said.

Read: Farewell to Terawan's Vaccine

DEWI NURITA