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Gerindra, PKS optimistic about Anies-Sandi victory
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Optimistic: Jakarta gubernatorial candidate pair Anies Baswedan (second right) and Sandiaga Uno (right) rebut queries raised by incumbent candidate pair Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama (left) and Djarot Saiful Hidayat during a debate in Jakarta on Jan.13.
(Antara/M.Agung Rajasa)
T
he Gerindra Party and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) are convinced that Jakarta gubernatorial candidate pair Anies Baswedan and Sandiaga Uno, who are running in the upcoming election on the parties’ ticket, can top the polls.
Gerindra Party secretary general Ahmad Muzani said his party and the PKS had success in the past in the capital, citing their successful efforts to defeat incumbent candidates in previous Jakarta gubernatorial elections.
“Gerindra was successful in beating an incumbent candidate pair during the Jakarta election five year ago. No one predicted that Jokowi and Ahok could win the 2012 Jakarta election, beating the incumbent pair,” said Muzani as quoted by kompas.com during an event at the PKS central executive board in Jakarta on Wednesday.
He referred to then Jakarta governor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and his running mate Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama.
(Read also: Renowned musicians launch song in support of Ahok)
Muzani further said the PKS also had a similar experience in a Jakarta election 10 years ago, when it supported its own candidate, Adang Daradjatun. Without support from any other political party, the PKS helped Adang win a significant number of votes in the 2007 Jakarta election. It helped the candidate receive as many votes as that of the incumbent candidate, Fauzi Bowo, who was supported by many parties.
“At that time, the PKS was overlooked by all parties but its candidate [Adang] almost won the election. Now, we are working together to support our candidate pair. We are optimistic we will be successful again,” said Muzani. (ebf)
