There is no doubt that current Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama is the early frontrunner in the race to become the capital’s next leader in 2017, with the most recent polls reaffirming his high electability rating despite attempts by his enemies to link him with graft and controversy.
Most analysts would say that Ahok’s strength in the polls is due to his earned reputation for clean governance and effectiveness. It’s a reputation that very few other politicians in Indonesia enjoy. But one of those politicians is Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini, popularly known as Bu Risma, who won the 2015 Bung Hatta Anti-Corruption Award 2015.
Risma is not only known for being a clean politician, she is also beloved by the people of Surabaya, who re-elected her with an overwhelming 86% of the vote in the 2015 election.
Due to her reputation and popularity, Risma has naturally been much discussed as a possible contender for governor of Jakarta. Her political party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) recently confirmed that Risma was being considered to be the party’s candidate in the 2017 Jakarta governor’s race.
“Anyone who becomes regional head with over 82 percent [of the vote] goes into our consideration,” PDI-P Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto said in Surabaya on Sunday as quoted by Tempo.
Hasto said there were other similarly popular PDI-P politicians under consideration, and that the party was trying to figure out which one would do best based upon what Jakartans were looking for in a candidate.
Risma has long been asked whether she would consider running for governor of Jakarta, and she has consistently said that she would not as she had made a commitment to the citizens of Surabaya.
“No, the residents of Surabaya need me more I think,” Risma told Tempo on Sunday.
But according to PDI-P officials, Risma may not have a choice in the matter.
“(Risma) as a party cadre cannot (refuse). If the party orders it, no one can say no. Definitely the decision would be implemented,” Komarudin Watubun, chairman of PDI-P’s executive board, told MetroTV on Friday. He added that Bu Risma being chosen as PDI-P’s gubernatorial candidate was definitely a possibility.
There are also rumors that PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri is pushing for Risma to run in Jakarta – and as we know from her comments on President Joko Widodo, she does not take kindly to party members who do not follow the wishes of PDI-P’s leadership (i.e. her).
In previous polls, Risma has fared decently against Ahok but it would be hard to say that she would actually be a strong contender to run the capital. It would definitely be a huge gamble for PDI-P to choose her as their candidate, not to mention the backlash they would face from the people of Surabaya, and possibly even from Risma herself, were they to go against her wishes and take her away from her beloved city. But they might just be that desperate to control the capital that they’ll do it anyways.
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