T

he Jakarta General Elections Commission (KPU Jakarta) says it is unlikely that the city’s governor-elect, Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, will be inducted into office as incumbent Governor Fauzi Bowo’s
tenure ends.

KPU Jakarta commissioner Sumarno said the administrative paperwork would not be completed for Jokowi to be sworn in on Sunday — the day that Fauzi’s time in office terminates.

Presidential approval via a request from the home minister is needed for Jokowi to be inducted on time. The ministry has been informed of Jokowi’s resignation from his post as Surakarta mayor as well as approval from the Surakarta Legislative Council.

Jokowi has only served two years of his second five-year term and will be replaced by his deputy, FX Hadi Rudyatmo. The ministry is also awaiting confirmation from the Jakarta City Council and KPU Jakarta that neither Jokowi nor Fauzi intend to challenge the runoff result.

“We have sent a letter to the Constitutional Court to confirm that neither of them have filed a lawsuit. We are waiting for the court’s response, which we will immediately forward to the City Council,” Sumarno said on Thursday.

Fauzi’s campaign team said on Wednesday that they would not be challenging Jokowi’s victory, despite claiming to have found a number of irregularities in the election process.

They said their candidate accepted his defeat gracefully and would not file a lawsuit challenging the results with the Constitutional Court

Sumarno was unable to confirm when the inauguration would be held. “It won’t be Oct. 7. I don’t think we can even make it for Oct. 11. Presidential approval takes time,” he said.

Jokowi surpassed Fauzi in the election, winning 53.82 percent of the vote, compared to 46.18 percent gained by his rival.

Separately on Thursday, Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi said he was prepared to appoint a temporary administration chief during the transition. “If Jokowi cannot be inducted on time, I will issue an order for the administration secretary to become the temporary chief,” Gamawan told reporters.

Gamawan said the delay was caused by procedural administrative matters. “It takes time,” he said.

The minister said the substitute chief would probably serve for three days. “I expect Jokowi will be sworn into office on Oct. 11,” he said.

Jakarta administration secretary Fadjar Panjaitan holds the third-highest administrative position after the deputy governor.

Contacted separately, Fadjar said he had not been informed of the prospect of temporarily assuming the governorship.

“I am not aware of [this decision]. If it is an order, I will obey,” Fadjar said at City Hall.

— JP/Andreas D. Arditya