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nyone with a bit of common sense would balk when hearing some of the names of candidates that have mentioned for the post of Jakarta deputy governor. A former graft convict has been proposed by the Gerindra Party as the deputy to Basuki Tjahaja Purnama.

The nomination constitutes contempt for the public'€™s sense of justice, as if there are no other politicians with proper track records who are competent enough to do the job. The recommendation of Muhamad Taufik, Jakarta chairman of Gerindra, should be deplored. What would become of Jakarta with an ex-embezzler as deputy governor?

Both Gerindra and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) as the parties that supported the winning pair in the 2012 Jakarta gubernatorial election are entitled to propose deputy governor candidates, pursuant to the law, but they should deeply consider who they propose. Gerindra and the PDI-P should consider their nominees'€™ track records and qualitative requirements.

Basuki'€™s rejection of Gerindra'€™s recommendation was the right move. Jakarta should not be headed by a former fraudster. Boy Sadikin, proposed by the PDI-P, does not seem fit either. The son of late Jakarta governor Ali Sadikin once rejected Basuki as Joko Widodo'€™s successor.

If both parties refuse to change their candidates, Basuki is under no obligation to submit their names to the Jakarta Legislative Council. Finally, the regional head is authorized to present the deputy nominees, rather than political parties. Even a vacant deputy seat is justified by the law.

'€” Koran Tempo, Jakarta