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Anies, Ganjar want to keep gubernatorial elections in Jakarta
Speaking to reporters, Ganjar, the former governor of Central Java, said that the plan proposed by the House of Representatives (DPR) to allow the president to appoint Jakarta governor ran counter to the regional autonomy law.
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Indonesian Navy personnel walk on Oct. 5, 2023, next to the National Monument (Monas) during the celebration of the 78th anniversary of the Indonesian Military (TNI), in Jakarta. (AFP/Yasuyoshi Chiba)
T
wo presidential candidates running in the 2024 general election, Ganjar Pranowo of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and opposition candidate Anies Baswedan, have both expressed their opposition of a plan to abolish the gubernatorial election in the capital city of Jakarta.
Speaking to reporters, Ganjar, the former governor of Central Java, said that the plan proposed by the House of Representatives (DPR) to allow the president to appoint the Jakarta governor ran counter to the regional autonomy law.
"If you want to be consistent with the regional autonomy law, then you must have an election for Jakarta governor. Unless you want to set up an administrative city, then you can allow for an appointment of local leaders," Ganjar told reporters late last week.
With August of next year as the government’s deadline for moving the national capital to Nusantara in East Kalimantan, the House is working on the Jakarta special designation bill to replace the 2007 Jakarta Capital Law while maintaining the 500-year-old city as the country’s economic center by upholding its designation as an autonomous province.
According to a copy of the draft bill obtained by The Jakarta Post, the president would be the sole authority able to appoint and dismiss Jakarta governors and deputy governors, after considering recommendations from the Jakarta Regional Legislative Council (DPRD).
Separately, former Jakarta governor Anies said that the House proposal could be a setback for democracy and freedom in the capital city.
"Jakarta has one of the highest democracy indexes and that has been the pride of my administration. It's ironic that in a place with such a high index of democracy, the democracy itself is being suppressed," Anies told a reporter.
