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Ahok-Djarot pair will continue Jokowi's New Jakarta legacy: PDI-P
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Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama (second right, front) and Jakarta Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat (first right, front) pose with Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) members including Banten Governor Rano Karno (third right, front) at the party's headquarters on Sept. 20. The PDI-P has declared its support for Ahok and Djarot to run in the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election. (JP/Callistasia Anggun Wijaya)
T
he Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has officially declared its support for Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama and deputy governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat on the back of optimism the two will continue the work initiated by former governor Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.
The party considers Ahok and Djarot capable of continuing to implement the vision of the Jakarta Baru (New Jakarta) program launched by the Jokowi-Ahok pair in the 2012 Jakarta gubernatorial election, PDI-P secretary general Hasto Kristiyanto said on Tuesday evening.
"It has been proven in the positive perception of their performance as seen in the many survey results that consistently show the satisfaction of Jakarta citizens," he said at a press conference at the party's central executive board (DPP) headquarters on Tuesday evening.
Jokowi and Ahok won the 2012 election with the support of the PDI-P and the Gerindra Party, of which Ahok was formerly a member.
The PDI-P also believes Ahok and Djarot are compatible with the party's commitment to uphold the values of diversity. Furthermore, the party also saw the pair as having the ability to coordinate well with the central government as stated in the Nawacita (Nine Development Principles) of President Jokowi's administration, Hasto added.
"On that basis, the PDI-P is committed to leading Ahok and Djarot to victory in the 2017 Jakarta election," he said.
The announcement came after months of speculation about who the PDI-P would support in the election. Some party members had previously opposed an Ahok nomination and vowed to nominate a party member to run in the election. (rin)
