Golkar is confident the pair would win the Jakarta gubernatorial election in 2017 ..."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Setya Novanto, the General Chairman of the countrys second largest party Golkar expressed optimism that incumbent candidates Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) and Vice Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat would return to the Jakarta City Hall after the next gubernatorial election next year.
"Golkar is confident the pair would win the Jakarta gubernatorial election in 2017 especially with the support from PDI Perjuangan," Novanto said in a statement here on Wednesday.
After going through months of zigzagging political maneuvering with contradicting statements, the countrys ruling PDI Perjuangan party finally endorsed support for Ahok-Djarot on Tuesday night.
Novanto said he appreciated the decision of PDI Perjuangan in nominating Ahok as candidate in the next year election with Djarot as running mate.
Before PDI Perjuangan announced its decision, Ahok already received support from Nasdem, Hanura and Golkar.
Ahok is close to PDI Perjuangan leader Megawati Soekarnoputri and President Joko Widodo. He was vice governor of Jakarta under Joko Widodo (Jokowi), before the latter became president two years ago.
Novanto called on other political parties to form a broader coalition with Golkar, PDI Perjuangan, Nasdem and Hanura in support of Ahok-Djarot.
He said Golkar already ordered its cadres to go to the grassroots in Jakarta asking them to vote for the team in the forthcoming election.
The pair are hard working leaders with pro people policy and have succeed in transforming Jakarta into a much more modern city, he said.
Ahok, who belongs to no political parties and has continued to top voter polls, is a Christian and an ethnic Chinese.
Support from PDI Perjuangan, however, would further strengthen his position facing any contestants vying for the most prestigious position among the countrys provinces.
(Uu.H-ASG/F001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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