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PDI-P likely to nominate Ahok, analyst says
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Djarot Saiful Hidayat (right) attends his inauguration ceremony as Jakarta deputy governor along with Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama (center) and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri in Jakarta. (JP/Awo Seto Wardhana )
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t is only a matter of time before the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) announces Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama as its gubernatorial candidate because the party has been unable to find other qualified candidates who are ready to be nominated, a political analyst says.
Sabastian Salang of the Indonesian Legislative Watch said on Friday that the PDI-P may nominate Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini, but it would be a big risk because she could lose in the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election.
“PDI-P qualifications are high. It actually has some excellent people in its ranks, but they are currently heads of regions. Does the PDI-P want to nominate a member who probably couldn’t beat Ahok? The member, on the other hand, would lose their position if they lost,” Sabastian said.
He added that the PDI-P would want to convince Ahok to accept PDI-P member Djarot Saiful Hidayat as his running mate. “If Ahok accepts PDI-P’s deputy gubernatorial candidate, the party will support Ahok," Sabastian told journalists.
The PDI-P, which has 28 seats on the City Council, is the only party that has a Jakarta gubernatorial ticket. Other parties do not meet the electoral threshold of 22 seats to nominate a candidate and would therefore have to form coalitions. (vny/bbn)
