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Hard for Ahok to bounce back: Expert
Even if Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama is acquitted on his blasphemy charges, a political expert says it would be difficult for him to campaign for the upcoming gubernatorial election.
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Standing firm -- Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama (center) responds to journalists' queries after his questioning by the National Police in Jakarta on Nov. 22.
(Antara/Reno Esnir)
A
nother massive rally demanding that Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama be arrested for alleged blasphemy will make it difficult for him to reclaim the frontrunner position in the gubernatorial election from his rival Agus Harimurti Yudhyoyono, an expert said.
Siti Zuhro, a political researcher from the Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI), said Friday that the rally had proven the public resistance against Ahok remains strong even though the Central Jakarta District Court is expected to soon start the governor's trial.
Siti, however, said the court's decision would still play a role swinging undecided voters if it delivers a "not guilty" verdict.
"The opposing voice is still very loud, even if the court acquits him on the charge Ahok's campaign team will still have a tough time to win the election," she said.
A recent survey by Jakarta-based Poltracking Indonesia revealed that Agus, son of former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, is leading with 27.92 percent while Ahok is in second place with 22 percent and former education minister Anies Baswedan is in third with 20.42 percent.
Even before he was declared a suspect, Ahok’s popularity rating had tumbled in previous months because of public response to the blasphemy accusations made against him, the survey showed.
According to the LSI, Ahok’s popularity rating was 59.3 percent in March. It then dropped to 49.1 percent in July before dropping again to 31.4 percent in October. (yan)
