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PDI-P close to endorse Ahok, Djarot claims
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Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama (right) and Jakarta Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat (second right) hold crocodile bread (roti buaya) in Jakarta on Aug. 26. The bread was given to them by volunteer backers as a symbolic gesture to support their re-election in the 2017 gubernatorial election. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)
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akarta deputy governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat has suggested that the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) is close to endorsing him and Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama in next year’s gubernatorial election.
PDI-P plans to announce its candidate on Tuesday evening, after holding a meeting at the PDI-P central executive board office on Jl. Diponegoro in Central Jakarta to discuss various upcoming regional elections.
“The party is getting firm to uphold plurality. I’m sure Jakarta residents are smart and critical in appointing their leaders,” Djarot said at City Hall on Tuesday, referring to racial and religious insults directed at Ahok in connection with the Jakarta election.
Djarot said such issues would not disrupt the election next year. He said Jakarta voters were rational and would surely be able to set aside racial and religious sentiment. However, Djarot did not confirm whether PDI-P had decided to support him and Ahok in the election.
"I'm also curious about the appointed candidates," he said.
Meanwhile, PDI-P vice secretary general Eriko Sotarduga said the party had not made a firm decision on the candidates to be appointed. The party would reveal the names of the appointed candidates after the meeting on Tuesday.
“Now, we still can’t reveal anything, because we haven’t made a decision,” he said. (bbn)
