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Banner banter builds buzz for Jakarta gubernatorial bid
An exchange of jabs on social media over the weekend has started early buzz over Jakarta's top post, though things could change in a big way if lawmakers decide to pass a bill that turns it into a presidential appointment.
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Motorists ply a thoroughfare in Jakarta during rush hour on Aug. 29, 2023. (AFP/Bay Ismoyo)
T
he regional elections are still nine months away, but some politicians appear to have started teasing their bid for the Jakarta governorship through roadside posters and social media posts.
The regional polls slated for Nov. 27 will mark the first time Indonesians vote simultaneously for their regional heads across dozens of provinces and hundreds of regencies and cities.
Talk about who should be the next Jakarta governor has been brewing since last year, but it resurfaced when former West Java governor Ridwan Kamil, put up banners across the capital last week, signaling his potential candidacy.
The billboards show the Golkar Party politician and former Bandung mayor carrying a backpack. A speech bubble asks where he is headed, and another speech bubble contains his reply: He is on his way to Jakarta.
The public ad went viral on social media and triggered a response from NasDem Party politician and House of Representatives lawmaker Ahmad Sahroni.
“Ridwan said he’s on [his] way to Jakarta and I’m already in Jakarta, so it’s easier for me,” Sahroni told reporters on Thursday, Kompas TV reported, suggesting he was also considering running for the post.
Sahroni added that Ridwan was an “easy opponent”.
