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'I've had enough': Medan mayor cancels reelection attempt, shocks supporters
Dzulmi’s decision to withdraw his candidacy in next year’s election came as a shock to his supporters, especially considering his high electability and general popularity among the public.
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Bobby Nasution, owner of Kopi Jolo and also President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's son in law, head of the Indonesian Intelligence Service of North Sumatra Brigadier General Ruruh A. Setyawibawa, Medan Mayor Tengku Dzulmi Eldin, North Sumatra Police head Inspector General Paulus Waterpauw, commander of Air Defense Sector-III/Medan First Marshal TNI Tri Bowo Budi Santoso, Gibran Rakabuming Raka owner of 'Markobar' and also President Jokowi's son, and Kaesang Pangarep owner of Sang Pisang, also Jokowi's son. The cafe on Jl Iskandar Medan is the first joint business of the three owners of Markobar, Sang Pisang and Kopi Jolo. (JP/Nurni Sulaiman)
M
edan Mayor Dzulmi Eldin has decided to drop out of next year’s simultaneous regional elections (Pilkada), opting instead to observe on the sidelines as he expected younger politicians to compete in the race.
“I have decided not to continue my candidacy in next year’s Pilkada. I’ve had enough,” Dzulmi told the press over the weekend.
He called on the younger generation to join next year’s mayoral election, saying he was certain that North Sumatra would be in better hands if younger politicians were to take the lead.
“Let’s encourage these young people to join the mayoral race. I hope they will fare better than I did by bringing about fundamental changes to the city of Medan,” he said, adding that he would soon explain his reasons for dropping out of the race to the political parties that supported him in the 2015 election.
Dzulmi’s decision to withdraw his candidacy in next year’s election came as a shock to his supporters, especially considering his high electability and general popularity among the public.
According to a survey conducted by the Islamic University of North Sumatra on the electability of Medan mayoral candidates from June 17 to 24, Dzulmi garnered 14.3 percent electability – the highest among his rivals.
Regional Legislative Councils deputy chairman in Medan Ihwan Ritonga trailed behind him with 7 percent while President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s son-in-law Bobby Nasution came third with 5.4 percent. Medan Deputy Mayor Akhyar Nasution got 3.8 percent while Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) chairman in Medan Salman Alfarizi, Jokowi’s daughter Kahiyang Ayu and North Sumatra senator-elect Dedi Iskandar Batubara all got 2 percent or below.
