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Democratic Party allows pro-Jokowi cadres to remain
Some Democratic Party cadres who support Jokowi hold top regional positions.
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Democratic Party chairman Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (center) poses in January with Democratic Party politician and former West Java deputy governor Deddy Mizwar (left) during his West Java gubernatorial campaign. Also pictured is Dedi Mulyadi, Deddy's running mate. (Antara/M Agung Rajasa)
T
he Democratic Party is granting a "dispensation" to its top-tiered regional cadres who have thrown their support behind President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and running mate Ma'ruf Amin in the 2019 presidential election, a party executive has said.
Ferdinand Hutahean, the Democrats' legal and advocacy head, said the decision was made to retain the party's votes in certain electoral regions where support for Jokowi was high.
"We have seen strong public opinion and interests for supporting Jokowi [in several provinces] , so we must also think about saving the party," Ferdinand said as quoted by kompas.com on Sunday.
"The party's central executive board [DPP] will give special dispensation for certain regions, but only a few, not many," he said.
The cadres, however, were expected to support the party in winning the legislative election in their respective regions.
The Democratic Party, which is supporting challenger Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno for the presidency in 2019, held a meeting to discuss internal issues, including several party cadres who had decided to support Jokowi-Ma'ruf.
To date, at least four Democrats have publicly announced their support for Jokowi's reelection, including Papua Governor Lukas Enembe, East Java Governor Soekarwo, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Governor Muhammad Zainul Majdi, also known as Tuan Guru Bajang (TGB), and former West Java deputy governor Deddy Mizwar. (afr)
