Home Affairs Ministry spokesperson Dodi Riyadmadji said a plenary session held by Jakartas DPRD on Friday afternoon announced to propose Basuki, who served as Acting Governor, as Governor of Jakarta.
"The plenary session put forth the proposal in accordance with the Local Government Act (No. 23 of 2014). The plenary forum was not dependent on the quorum because it was not on its agenda to make a decision," Dodi Riyadmadji said here on Friday.
After conducting the plenary session, the DPRD sent a letter to President Joko Widodo through Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo.
The letter suggested that Basuki would fill the vacancy of Jakarta Governor because the former governor, Joko Widodo, has been elected as the President.
About filling the post of Jakarta Governor, Dodi explained that Basuki as the Deputy Governor had the right to occupy the number one position in the DKI Jakarta Province. This was stipulated in the Government Regulation in lieu of Law (Perppu) No. 1 of 2014 concerning the election of Governor, the Regent, and the Mayor, he added.
In the Perppus Section 203, it is said in the event that a governors post falls vacant following election results, then based on Law No. 32 of 2004 concerning local government, the Deputy Governor can take over until his term ended.
So, Dodi noted, in this case, Article 173 in the Perppu did not apply.
"If you look at Perppu No. 1 of 2014, it allows the conducting of the 2015 election solely to elect governors, regents, and mayors without a representative (non-package). It is not reasonable to apply article 173 in the case of Jakarta Governor," he affirmed.
Basuki, who is popularly known as Ahok, became Jakarta Governor until the 2017 term after President Joko Widodo decreed his removal and installation.
Earlier, Jakartas DPRD had officially announced the appointment of Acting Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama as Jakarta Governor.
"The chairman of Jakartas Regional Legislative Council has officially announced and proposed to the President through the Home Affairs Minister the appointment of Acting Jakarta Governor as Jakarta Governor," Jakartas DPRD chairman Prasetyo Edi Marsudi stated here on Friday.
According to him, a special plenary meeting was held to follow up on the letter of recommendation to the Home Affairs Minister besides a meeting with the leaders of all factions on Thursday (November 13).
"After the plenary meeting, the proposed letter was sent to the President through the Ministry of Home Affairs. We sent the letter the same day so the inauguration could be held at the earliest," Prasetyo said.
However, Prasetyo does not know when Basuki Tjahaja Purnama would be inaugurated, as the authority to take a decision on the matter rests with President Joko Widodo.
"Moreover, the President has been carrying out the state duties from abroad. So, we will wait for the Presidents decision before passing any instruction to the Home Affairs Ministry," Prasetyo noted.
According to the Antara reporter, from a total of 102 members, only 42 attended the special plenary meeting that lasted only 10 minutes.
Besides them, four deputy chairmen namely M Taufik of Gerindra, Triwisaksana of PKS, Abraham Lunggana of PPP, and Ferrial Sofyan of the Democrat Party, also skipped the meeting.
"It is okay, no problem. We just officially announced the appointment of Basuki as Governor of Jakarta. Everything is carried in accordance with the directives from the Home Ministry," he emphasized.
(Uu.A063/INE/KR-BSR/H-YH)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2014
