Prijanto met with party reps after telling council of his resignation

Political support?: Jakarta deputy governor Prijanto (center), Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) politician M. Taufik (left) and People’s Conscience Party (Hanura) politician Ongen Sangaji hold a press conference after a special meeting between Prijanto and several political party representatives on the City Council on Tuesday. JP/NurhayatiA number of top local politicians believe Jakarta deputy governor Prijanto, who tendered his resignation recently, has a sporting chance in next year’s gubernatorial election.

Prijanto met with five representatives of local political parties on Tuesday afternoon, after submitting his resignation letter to the City Council in the morning.

The deputy governor met with representatives from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), the Golkar Party, the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the People’s Conscience Party (Hanura).

Muhammad Taufik, chairman of the Jakarta branch of Gerindra, said that Prijanto would be an interesting candidate for the upcoming election. “Now that he is free, he should look for a running mate for the election. It would be only natural for him to do so,” Taufik said.

Taufik said that Gerindra would take Prijanto seriously as a possible candidate the party could support. “However, it depends on what he actually says and does after resigning,” he said. Gerindra is among the city’s smaller parties, securing a total of six seats on the City Council during the legislative election in 2009.

Selamat Nurdin, chairman of the local PKS branch — one of Jakarta’s political heavyweights — said the door was open for Prijanto to join the gubernatorial race. “He will make an exciting contender in the competition. The fact that he timed his resignation only six months before voting day will surely heat up the race,” Selamat said.

However, he thought Prijanto’s resignation was a little too late. “He should have resigned earlier,”
he added.

The secretary general of Golkar’s city branch Zainuddin said that his party had yet to decide what to make of Prijanto’s resignation. “Whether he could make the list as one of our possible candidates is yet to be decided,” Zainuddin said.

Golkar has formed a coalition with other smaller parties Gerindra, Hanura and the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS) for next year’s election. Golkar has seven seats on the City Council, Gerindra has six seats and Hanura and PDS each four seats.

The Jakarta chapter of the General Elections Commission (KPU) has set the date for next year’s gubernatorial elections for July 11. Candidacy registration will be opened in February. The KPU has predicted a second round in next year’s election. Unlike other regions, the capital city requires candidates to secure more than 50 percent of votes to win the election.

Prijanto refused to relate his resignation to the gubernatorial race. “This has nothing to do with the election. I don’t want to talk about the election now,” he said.

Prijanto submitted his resignation letter to the City Council on Tuesday morning, after tendering his resignation letter to the Home Ministry on Friday.

The deputy governor confessed that he had considered resigning for the past two years. “I was being given less and less duties,” he said.

Prijanto has been largely absent from City Hall and city administration events over the last months.

At least three politicians and three other candidates, who are not politically affiliated, have announced their bids for the election.

The Democratic Party, the largest party on Jakarta Council with 32 of 94 seats, has said it would back party branch chairman Nachrowi Ramli. The party, however, has yet to say anything about incumbent Governor Fauzi Bowo, who is a member of the party’s central board.

PKS, with 18 council seats, said it would nominate council member Triwisaksana.

Golkar has endorsed Jakarta branch chairman Prya Ramadhani to run, although the party also said that it was not seeking the governor’s post.

Faisal Basri, the University of Indonesia economist, is running as an independent candidate in 2012 with running mate, Biem Benyamin.

Former Indonesian Military Police chief Maj. Gen. (ret) Hendardji Soepandji is also expected to run as an independent candidate and is looking for candidates from political parties to serve as his deputy.

Former Presidential Security Force chief Marine Lt. Gen. Nono Sampono is also looking to run and is reported to have lobbied the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) central board to support his candidacy.