TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) central executive board chairman Andreas Hugo Pareira said the party has yet to make any decision to support any candidate in the upcoming Jakarta gubernatorial election.
“The decision [to endorse] governor and deputy governor candidates is yet to be made,” he told Tempo on Thursday, August 18, 2016.
The remark was made in response to Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama’s statement that the PDIP chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri had made her endorsment. Ahok broke the news to reporters after he met Megawati at the PDIP headquarters, Jalan Diponegoro 58, Central Jakarta.
Andreas confirmed that Megawati did receive Ahok’s visit on Wednesday, August 17, 2016, around 4 PM at the party’s headquarters. “The meeting was initiated by Pak Ahok.”
In the meeting, Ahok specifically said that he had decided to run through political party ticket in Jakarta gubernatorial election. “And Pak Ahok was also hopeful of getting PDI Perjuangan endorsement,” Andreas said. Ahok also said he was willing to run with Jakarta Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat as deputy governor candidate.
According to Andreas, the meeting between Ahok and Mega is normal. Meetings between incumbent regional heads who are endorsed by PDIP with the party’s chairwoman are common.
PDIP has yet to accept Ahok’s proposal. Andreas said that according to the party’s rules, Ahok and Djarot may be nominated if they pass evaluation made by PDIP central executive board.
Andreas declined to reveal when the decision would be made. He said that endorsement would be made with a legal document in the form of a candidate endorsement letter. “The decision will be made when the time is right,” Andreas said.
JOBPIE SUGIHARTO
