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Heru allows Ahok to find new running mate
Heru Budi Hartono, the civil servant that Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama had tipped to be his running mate in the 2017 gubernatorial election, has granted the governor permission to select a new candidate. Heru emphasized that Ahok may be required to do so if he were to enter the election with party representation.
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Jakarta Financial and Asset Management Board head Heru Budi Hartono works in his office at City Hall on March 4. (kompas.com/Alsadad Rudi )
H
eru Budi Hartono, the civil servant that Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama had tipped to be his running mate in the 2017 gubernatorial election, has granted the governor permission to select a new candidate.
Heru emphasized that Ahok may be required to do so if he were to enter the election with party representation.
“It’s up to him [Ahok]. I’m just following him as a soldier. I just hope for the best, easiest and fastest way for Ahok to run for the governor’s post,” Heru, who is also Jakarta Financial and Asset Management Board head, said at City Hall on Monday.
In March, Ahok declared he would run as an independent candidate with Heru as his running mate.
However, three political parties – the Golkar Party, the NasDem Party and the Hanura Party – have expressed support for Ahok in his reelection bid. The three parties combined meet the threshold of 22 Jakarta Council seats for a gubernatorial ticket.
Heru said he realized that Ahok might decide to represent a political party because running as an independent candidate would not be easy to meet the requirements of the newly enacted Regional Elections Law.
Heru congratulated Teman Ahok (Friends of Ahok) volunteers, who managed to garner the support of 1 million Jakartans for Ahok and Heru’s candidacy.
Heru said he needed to meet Ahok to discuss the candidacy. “There are lot of things I need to discuss with Ahok. Tomorrow I will talk to him about the candidacy as well as job matters,” Heru said at City Hall on Monday. (bbn)
