JAKARTA. The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has thrown its weight behind Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama’s decision to tip PDI-P politician Djarot Saiful Hidayat as the city’s new deputy governor through 2017.

The party also said that it would endorse Ahok during the 2017 gubernatorial elections if the latter excelled over the next three years in the city’s top post.

Head of the PDI-P’s Jakarta branch Boy Sadikin and PDI-P politician and City Council Speaker Prasetyo Edi Marsudi visited Ahok at City Hall in Central Jakarta on Wednesday to give Ahok a letter from the party’s central board approving Djarot’s selection as the city’s new deputy governor.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting with Ahok, Boy said that even though Ahok was not a party member, the PDI-P’s central board would endorse him for governor in the 2017 gubernatorial election if he governed well.

“Insya Allah [God willing] we will endorse Pak Ahok [during the 2017 gubernatorial election] if he wants our support,” Boy said.

Boy also urged all PDI-P members to support Ahok’s decision to nominate Djarot as deputy governor. He added that the party must be united in its support of Ahok’s policies, as Ahok would carry forward the agenda set by former Jakarta governor and current Indonesian president, Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. The PDI-P and Gerindra Party were the two parties that endorsed Jokowi and Ahok during the 2012 gubernatorial elections.

“All party members, including those in the Jakarta branch, must adhere to these rules. If we find that a member does not support this decision, they will be sanctioned,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ahok said that PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri had promised him that the party would endorse him in the 2017 gubernatorial election if he proved himself a capable governor over the next three years.

“However, Bu Mega said that if I disappointed the people of Jakarta, PDI-P would not endorse me [...] But if I disappointed Jakartans, I myself would not run for government in 2017, as I would be too embarrassed,” Ahok said, adding that he would continue his partnership with Djarot in the 2017 elections if they worked well together. In the meantime, he said, he would run the city with the help of PDI-P politicians.

“Currently, I have Pak Prasetyo as city council speaker and Pak Boy as head of PDI-P’s Jakarta branch to help me get along with the councilors. I will also have Pak Djarot as my deputy to help me fix Jakarta. Pak Djarot gained extensive experience during his 10-year tenure as Blitar [East Java] mayor. He has much more experience than me and I can learn from him,” Ahok said.

He added that Sarwo “Yani” Handayani, whom Ahok had previously favored as his deputy, would stay on as head of the Governor’s Team for Development Supervision (TGUPP). “I am very lucky. This way, I will have both Pak Djarot and Bu Yani working with me in the city.”

Ahok met with Megawati in a closed-door meeting at her residence last week. Ahok said he wanted to consult Megawati about his deputy. Ahok previously had said he preferred non-politicians and repeatedly named Yani as his top choice, though he mentioned Djarot as a possible pick as well. After the meeting with Megawati, however, Ahok said he would select Djarot.

However, Ahok said he would not join the PDI-P as a party member. “I’m already very close with Bu Mega, Pak Djarot, Pak Boy and Pak [Prasetyo]. I think it is enough that I am close with them. I don’t need to be a [party] member,” he said. (Dewanti A. Wardhani)

Editor: Barratut Taqiyyah Rafie