The Jakarta Elections Commission (KPU Jakarta) revealed Friday that incumbent Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo was the most lavish gubernatorial candidate, spending Rp 62.57 billion (US$6.63 million) in during the first round last month.
Fauzi and his running mate Nachrowi Ramli, who finished second in the poll, reported that he had collected Rp 62.62 billion campaign funds.
The pair’s extravagant spending was much higher than other candidates, including front running pair Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja who spent Rp 16.09 billion out of the Rp 16.31 billion he managed to raise.
Fauzi and Jokowi will compete in the runoff scheduled for Sept. 20.
KPU Jakarta head of campaign affairs Suhartono said that the campaign fund’s figures were based on the candidates’ reports. “The candidates reported their campaign funds over three different periods: before the campaigning, after the campaigning, and after polling day,” he said.
According to the KPU Jakarta’s report, candidate Alex Noerdin and his running mate Nono Sampono secured Rp 24.68 billion of funds and spent Rp 24.67 billion. The pair, who was backed by the Golkar Party and the United Development Party (PPP), finished in fifth place.
Hidayat Nurwahid, Prosperous Justice Party candidate, spent Rp 19.69 billion of funds, slightly below Rp 19.7 billion he gathered. Hidayat finished third.
Independent candidates Faisal Basri and Hendardji Soepandji had modest spending of Rp 5.08 billion and Rp 3.25 billion respectively. Faisal, who ran in the election with businessman Biem Benjamin, spent more than Rp 4.16 billion they could gather from public donations. The duo finished fourth.
Hendardji, and Ahmad Riza Patria, collected Rp 3.02 billion campaign funds finished last.
Political analyst from think tank Charta Politika, Yunarto Wijaya, said the funds reports might not show real spending.
“What the Jakarta KPU disclosed was based on the campaign teams’ reports. The real amount could be higher but political funds are very difficult to audit,” Yunarto told The Jakarta Post Digital on Friday.
Yunarto said that huge campaign funds did not guarantee success in securing votes.
“Jakarta voters are rational. They’re not easily fooled by candidate’s smiles on billboards. They want program,” he said. (fzm/han/lfr)
