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Ahok-Djarot campaign team objects to leave requirement
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Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (left) speaks, with his running mate Deputy GovernorDjarot Saiful Hidayat looking on, during the last debate before the election, on Feb. 10. (Antara/Akbar Nugroho Gumay)
T
he campaign team of Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama and Djarot Saiful Hidayat has expressed its objection to the Jakarta General Elections Commission’s (KPU Jakarta) plan to require the pair to take leave during the upcoming second campaign period.
I Gusti Putu Artha, the campaign team’s spokesman, said the plan was against decree number 41 of 2016 concerning the election process timeline, which he said only required candidates to attend a debate during a week-long campaign period from April 6 to April 15.
“With the existing regulation, Ahok won’t have to take leave because he only needs to attend a debate. However, if the KPU decides to extend the campaign period and allows a wide variety of campaign activities, Ahok will need to take leave again,” Putu told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
The commission plans to revise the existing decree and oblige candidates to campaign from March 7 to April 15, during which Ahok and Djarot will have to leave from City Hall.
(Read also: Ahok, Djarot told to take leave again for runoff campaign)
KPU Jakarta head Sumarno said earlier that candidates would be allowed to do various campaign activities but were not permitted to spread campaign materials or hold major campaign events.
Putu said the team was suspicious that the commission had an ulterior motive for changing the decree ahead of the runoff, adding that the team would convey their objection regarding the decree revision during the public hearing initiated by KPU Jakarta.
