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Majority of PDI-P members don't support Ahok: Lawmaker
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Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Eva Kusuma Sundari speaks in a discussion in Jakarta recently. (Kompas.com/Dani Prabowo)
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n Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) legislator has said the majority of party members were reluctant to support incumbent Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama in next year’s gubernatorial elections.
“We have been divided into two groups, those who want to nominate Ahok and those who don’t want to support him. However, more members of the party do not want to support him now,” PDI-P lawmaker Eva Kusuma Sundari told The Jakarta Post.
She said Ahok had continued to make statements that offended PDI-P members. In the most recent case, she said, Ahok said he did not need the party’s support as he had already been endorsed by three parties, namely the Golkar Party, NasDem Party and Hanura Party.
Up until now, PDI-P is yet to announce its gubernatorial candidate. However, it is widely known that Ahok and PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri have a good relationship.
Eva went on to say that if in the end Megawati decided to support Ahok, she and the rest of the party’s members would respect her decision.
PDI-P and six other parties, namely the Gerindra Party, Democratic Party, Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), United Development Party (PPP), National Awakening Party (PKB) and National Mandate Party (PAN), have formed the Kinship Coalition. The six parties have entrusted the PDI-P with naming a gubernatorial candidate they will support in the 2017 Jakarta election.
For vice governor candidate, the coalition has chosen Sandiaga Uno, who was initially put forward by Gerinda as a gubernatorial candidate. (wnd/ebf)
