Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama today gave the strongest indication yet that he may be ready to reconsider his independent run for re-election in 2017.
Many have been curious as to whether Ahok’s commitment to volunteer group Teman Ahok, which has collected almost 1 million identity cards (KTP) in support of Ahok’s independent run, has wavered since the House of Representatives passed a new regional elections bill (RUU Pilkada) that requires the elections commission to physically and personally verify every single KTP that has been submitted in support of a candidate’s independent run. Many believe the new regulations were clearly aimed at stifling Ahok’s independent candidacy.
Despite Teman Ahok pledging to fight the new regulations by taking it to the Supreme Court and by planning a massive “day off” campaign to meet the outrageous new voter verification rules, Ahok today told reporters that he and Teman Ahok have to review their options.
“We have to speak with Teman Ahok. How does Teman Ahok want it, which option is rational?” Ahok said at City Hall today, as quoted by Detik.
Several political parties, including Golkar, Hanura, and NasDem have all expressed interest in backing Ahok. Even PDI-P, who has been the most vocal critics of Ahok’s planned independent run, have suggested they might back him if he gave up the party-free path.
Ahok hasn’t committed himself to one option or the other, and he claims he isn’t worried if he doesn’t end up choosing either.
“Like my wife said, if I don’t end up becoming a candidate then that’s good. It would be a happy exit, so we quit on good terms right? That’s fine by me,” he said.
Should that happen, then the people’s hopes of having a candidate that doesn’t have to answer to the political party elites will be crushed and Indonesian democracy will become that much weaker. Hopefully Ahok won’t let it come to that.
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