TEMPO.CO, Jakarta-Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama is convinced that he will be nominated by the Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) in the 2017 Jakarta Gubernatorial Election. “[I’m] the last choice but if we got married it would be great,” Ahok said at the City Hall, Monday, July 25, 2016.
The remark was made in response to the statement made by PDIP central executive board chairman Andreas Pareira that Ahok was the third option in the nomination of candidates for Jakarta gubernatorial election. In the PDIP’s political mapping Ahok stands behind the candidate selected by the party and PDIP’s own cadre. “Pak Ahok is in the last category [of the political mapping] because he is not a cadre.”
Ahok liken his relationship with the PDIP to that of two lovers who eventually got married where the last choice is typically the final choice. Ahok said lightheartedly that he was greatful of being PDIP’s last choice. “Those who got married are last choices. I don’t want to be the first choice if we did not get married eventually,”
Ahok has two options in 2017 Jakarta governor race. If he run for governor on the ticket of political party, he has had the endorsement from NasDem, Hanura and Golkar Party. Whereas, if he run as an independent, Ahok has collected 1 million ID card for his nomination.
The PDIP central executive board has narrowed the shortlist of candidates from the selection and political mapping. However, it has yet to decide on who it will nominate. Several candidates such as Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini and Ahok has been bandied about as PDIP’s potential candidate.
Ahok himself was yet to announce if he would run for governor on the ticket of a political party or as an independent. He had promised to announce his decision after Eid.
Andreas said that the party was still waiting for Ahok’s confirmation. According to Andreas and PDIP regional executive board secretary Prasetyo Edi Marsudi, Ahok would make the announcement tomorrow, Wednesday, July 27, 2016. “I was told that Pak Ahok would announce it on [July] 27. We’ll see,” Andreas said.
He said that the PDIP still leave the door open for Ahok to register with the PDIP central executive board. However, if Ahok insist on running as an independent the PDIP would not nominate Ahok, Andreas said.“It’s impossible for us to endorse an independent candidate,” he said.
LARISSA HUDA
