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Teman Ahok will accept candidacy supported by political party
The Teman Ahok (Friends of Ahok) group says it will accept the situation if Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama has to run as a political party candidate rather than an independent, although its members have collected 1 million photocopies of Jakarta voters’ identity cards.
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Jakartans attend the Teman Ahok Fair at Gudang Sarinah in Pancoran, South Jakarta, in May. Teman Ahok held a two-day event to help raise campaign funds and collect copies of residents’ identity cards to support Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama's independent bid in the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election. (Antara/Reno Esnir)
T
he Teman Ahok (Friends of Ahok) group says it will accept the situation if Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama has to run as a political party candidate rather than an independent, although its members have collected 1 million photocopies of Jakarta voters’ identity cards.
“If the independent path is so difficult for him because there are so many barriers, the volunteers can accept if he has to be nominated by political parties,” Teman Ahok spokeswoman Amalia Ayuningtyas said as reported by kompas.com on Monday.
She said Ahok had not made a decision on whether he would run as an independent candidate or through a political party.
“Currently we cannot say anything because politics can change at the last minute,” she said, adding that Teman Ahok volunteers would nonetheless fight so that Ahok could take part in the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election as an independent.
She said the 1 million copies of IDs collected by Teman Ahok and the support of three political parties – the Golkar Party, Nasdem Party and Hanura Party – would help to smooth the way for Ahok to take part in the gubernatorial election.
“He can choose which path he will take. It depends on what direction the wind will blow. Teman Ahok has no capability to follow political intrigue,” she added.
Based on existing regulations, an independent candidate in Jakarta is only required to collect 532,000 copies of voter IDs.
But the revised Regional Elections Law has made it more difficult for independent candidates because it requires the General Elections Commission (KPU) to verify all ID copies. An independent candidate’s team is required to take supporters to the election committee within three days if a committee member fails to conduct factual verification at supporters' homes. (bbn)
