[COMMENTARY] When Governor Anies becomes a nobody next year

Kornelius Purba
The Jakarta Post

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Jakarta / Mon, February 22, 2021 / 02:17 am

[COMMENTARY] When Governor Anies becomes a nobody next year

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan (center) gives a speech during the launching ceremony of Jakarta Bermasker (Jakarta Wearing Mask) logo at the Jakarta Police headquarters on Feb. 3. The logo is part of the authorities' effort in educating people to adhere to the strict health protocols in order to curb the COVID-19 transmission. (Antara/M. Risyal Hidayat)

Five of the six provinces in densely populated Java will be led by government-appointed acting governors before the 2024 simultaneous elections. Banten Governor Wahidin Halim’s term will expire in May 2022 and Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan’s will end on Oct. 16, 2022. West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil, East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa and Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo will follow suit in 2023. As for Yogyakarta Governor Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, his post will remain intact because of the special status awarded to the province. Anies, Ridwan, Khofifah and Ganjar have been touted as potential candidates for the presidency, but what can they expect if they’re not holding public office ahead of the race? The first three had hoped their reelection would provide them a platform to run for a higher office, but the political parties that control the outri...