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Ahok tells Megawati he won't run as independent
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Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri speaks to party deputy chairmen Djarot Saiful Hidayat (right) and Andreas Pareira on the sidelines of an event in Jakarta. ( Kompas.com/Indra Akuntono)
J
akarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama said on Friday that he had relayed to Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairman Megawati Sukarnoputri his decision to drop his independent bid in next year's gubernatorial election.
The governor traveled in a car with Megawati and President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, also a PDI-P member, to attend a meeting of the leadership of the Golkar Party in Senayan, South Jakarta.
“I have told Megawati that I will run for election with the support of political parties. She replied, though, that the PDI-P has a mechanism [on how to nominate a candidate],” Ahok told reporters at City Hall.
The PDI-P has yet to decide if is to back Ahok in the upcoming gubernatorial election, although the governor seems confident that he will garner the party’s support.
The party holds 26 seats on the City Council, allowing it to run a candidate without having to form an alliance with other parties. The Regional Elections Law requires that contenders be nominated by a party or group of parties that control at least 22 seats to take part in the election.
Ahok has already secured a smooth path to the nomination with the backing of three political parties: Golkar, the NasDem Party and the Hanura Party, which have a combined 24 seats. But the governor is still seeking additional support from the PDI-P.
Were the party to opt to back the incumbent, Ahok, already considered a frontrunner according to various surveys and supported by a legion of militant supporters online, would be virtually unbeatable. (ary)
