he Home Ministry’s regional administration management director general, Eko Subowo, has been appointed as the acting North Sumatra governor, which has been vacant as of June.
Eko was chosen by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo following a recommendation from Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo, who referred to the 2016 Regional Heads Law, which stipulates that vacant positions must be filled by high-ranking civil servants.
Tjahjo inaugurated the acting governor in a ceremony held at the North Sumatra governor's office in Medan, North Sumatra, on Friday.
Eko’s office term will only last until after the new North Sumatra governor and deputy governor are elected in the province’s gubernatorial election, which is slated for Wednesday.
The announcement of Eko’s appointment has ended months-long polemics and criticism voiced by politicians and civil groups against the home minister, who announced in January that Insp.Gen. Martuani Sormin, a high-ranking police official at the National Police, was going to be appointed as the acting North Sumatra governor.
Political parties questioned the legality of the minister’s move, accusing the government of committing political maneuvering ahead of the 2019 election. Responding the criticism, the government eventually dropped the plan, in which the Home Ministry promised on Monday that the acting governor would be a civilian. (nor/ebf)
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