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Ahok has agreed to take leave for Jakarta election campaign
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Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja “Ahok” Purnama (second left) looks on as Hasto Kristiyanto (left), the secretary-general of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), and Jakarta Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat sign political documents in Jakarta on Tuesday concerning Ahok's second gubernatorial term candidacy. Ahok and Djarot have been officially named the party’s candidate pair for the upcoming Jakarta gubernatorial election. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)
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akarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama has submitted a statement letter to the Jakarta General Election Commission (KPU Jakarta) saying that he is willing to take a campaign leave following his registration as a candidate for the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election, an official said on Friday.
Ahok had handed over a letter to KPU Jakarta stating that he would take a campaign leave on the day of his registration with deputy governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat on Wednesday, KPU Jakarta chairman Sumarno said. All hopefuls must submit all the requirements including the statement letter for the leave period until Oct. 4 before KPU makes the final announcement on the verified candidates on Oct. 24.
“The official permission to take a campaign leave must be given after KPU have named the hopeful candidates for the elections,” he said.
KPU scheduled the campaign period from Oct. 26 to Feb. 11, 2017, in which candidates who are state officials must take leave in order to join the campaign.
Ahok had filed a motion to the Constitutional Court to challenge an article in the the Regional Elections Law that requires candidates to take a campaign leave. He argued that the requirement must be optional as he initially refused to take leave to secure the city's budget.
The hearings on the petition were still on going as Justices had not yet made a decision on whether or not to grant Ahok's motion. The representatives of the central government along with the House of Representatives had testified at the MK suggesting to reject the judicial review. (wnd/rin)
