Surakarta Mayor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo appears to be stalling in announcing a decision to run in the Jakarta gubernatorial election, despite insisting that he is in fact interested
urakarta Mayor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo appears to be stalling in announcing a decision to run in the Jakarta gubernatorial election, despite insisting that he is in fact interested.
He is ranked as the most recommended candidate for the post according to a survey conducted jointly by Cyrus Network and the University of Indonesia’s political psychology laboratory.
But Jokowi said it did not automatically convince him to run.
“There are many factors to consider. You may be ranked first by a survey, but you still need to look at the political and electability factors,” Jokowi told reporters in Surakarta, Central Java, on Monday.
The survey, which questioned focus groups of 100 experts to identify Jakarta’s problems and to qualify the right figure to tackle the problems, gave Jokowi the highest scores in the categories of leadership, intellect, political skill, political communication skills, emotional stability, leadership style and physical appearance.
Overall, Jokowi was ranked first among other recommended figures that emerged in the survey including Faisal Basri, Fadel Muhammad, Sandiaga Uno, Chairul Tanjung, Tantowi Yahya and the incumbent Fauzi Bowo.
Jokowi, however, said he would wait for the right time to decide on the matter.
He will have to send back the registration form for the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle’s (PDI-P) internal selection for the candidacy.
Jokowi also said that support from his political party was an important factor to consider because a political party behind him was an extension of the voice of the people.
If the party wanted him to run, he would be ready for it, he said.
“Still, we need to see the electability [figures],” he added.
Separately, PDI-P Surakarta branch chairman F.X. Hadi Rudyatmo said that the party’s municipal executive board was ready to support Jokowi.
However, Rudi added that despite the support and Jokowi’s top ranking by a survey as the most-recommended candidate for DKI governor, Jokowi’s candidacy in the election had to be handled according to the prevailing mechanisms.
As such, his candidacy must be deliberated in the party’s regional working meeting up to the national one.
“If the DPP [central executive board] really wants [to nominate Jokowi for the DKI governor candidacy], he can go on,” said Hadi Rudyatmo, or Rudy as he is popularly called, on Tuesday.
Rudy also said that the party’s national working meeting would be held in Bandung, West Java, on Dec. 11–14, would probably put the candidacy for the DKI governor election on its agenda, during which Jokowi’s possible candidacy might as well be discussed.
“It’s true that Jokowi did not send back the registration form for the party’s internal selection for the candidacy. However, if the DPP wants him, he can be just pulled out,” Rudy said.
An internal survey conducted by the PDI-P DPP reportedly also ranked Jokowi in first place to be the party’s candidate for the Jakarta governor election, followed by Surabaya, East Java, Mayor Bambang D.H. and former Blitar, East Java, Mayor Djarot.
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