TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Tight race predicted in Banten election
Change text size
Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Banten gubernatorial election candidates Wahidin Halim (left) and Andika Hazrumy (second left) pose with their rivals Rano Karno (second right) and Embay Mulya Syarief after the election debate in Jakarta, Sunday. (Antara/Wahyu Putro A) (Antara/Wahyu Putro A)
A
tight race is expected to occur in Banten’s gubernatorial election on Feb. 15 between the incumbent candidate pair of Rano Karno and Embay Mulya Syarief and their challengers Wahidin Halim and Andika Hazrumy, as both tickets have strong backing.
The Wahidin-Andika ticket would likely be supported by Andika’s family, Association for Elections and Democracy (Perludem) head Titi Anggraeni said.
Andika is the son of former Banten governor Ratu Atut Chosiyah, who took office in 2007, before she was imprisoned for her involvement in a graft case in 2014. The dynasty may continue to reign in the province should Andika win this year’s election.
Atut’s relatives who ran for and won elections include Serang regent Ratu Tatu Chasanah, Serang mayor Tubagus Haerul Jaman and South Tangerang regent Airin Rachmi Diany. Andika, who is currently a House of Representatives member, is Atut’s son.
“Atut’s influence is still very strong in Banten,” Titi said Sunday.
The ticket, however, faced a tough challenge, as many Banten residents oppose the dynasty, Titi went on. The critics of the dynasty had pinned their hopes on the Rano-Embay ticket.
In a recent survey held by Jakarta-based pollster Political Survey Institution (LSP), the Wahidin-Andika ticket was favored by 39.5 percent of respondents, followed by the Rano-Embay ticket with 32.1 percent. (trw)
