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Ahok prepares resignation for Gerindra
Jakarta Deputy Governor Basuki âAhokâ Tjahaja Purnama said on Wednesday that he was preparing a resignation letter for submission to the Gerindra Party central executive board, following the move by the Red-and-White Coalition, which is led by the party, to return direct elections to legislative councils
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J
akarta Deputy Governor Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama said on Wednesday that he was preparing a resignation letter for submission to the Gerindra Party central executive board, following the move by the Red-and-White Coalition, which is led by the party, to return direct elections to legislative councils.
Ahok previously stated that he would prefer leaving the party ' which is led by losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto ' should the coalition insist on going ahead with the move.
'The Gerindra Party seems adamant about its move. That's why I decided to prepare a resignation letter today and I will send it to the central executive board immediately. I decided to do this because, to me, what Gerindra is fighting for is not in line with my principle of providing the people with the best options,' Ahok told reporters at City Hall.
The outspoken politician reiterated that his move was motivated purely by his own will.
'We are talking about principle. Since the very beginning I have said that [I] wouldn't be loyal to a party that moved against the Constitution. I decided to leave [the] Golkar [Party] for Gerindra because they said they wanted me due to my [clean] track record and they wanted to endorse clean politicians because the people are getting smarter now and want good politicians ['¦] so it's not me who broke the deal, it was Gerindra!' he said, adding that he would not change his decision even if the local elections bill was not passed.
'We are clearly facing in different directions now,' he added.
Following Prabowo's defeat in the recent presidential election, the coalition began to support the idea of returning the election of local heads to regional legislative councils. The bill on local elections is still being deliberated by the House of Representatives Commission II on elections and home affairs.
Ahok pointed out that politicians like him, as well as president-elect and Jakarta Governor Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo, would never have had a political career in Indonesia without direct elections. Ahok was previously a Golkar legislator in the House before jumping ship to join Gerindra and become Jokowi's running mate in the 2012 direct gubernatorial election.
'I am sure that [I] or Jokowi wouldn't have been elected if regional heads were elected by legislative councils. Pak Jokowi wouldn't even have been Surakarta mayor; I wouldn't have been a regent [...] Now they are keen to return to the previous mechanism, why? Are they that insecure? Are they not confident enough to compete with the likes of me?' he asked. (nfo)
