November 28, 2024
JAKARTA – Former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan said this year’s Jakarta gubernatorial election is “unique” because not all candidates could vote in the capital city, in what was seen as a jab at the Ridwan Kamil-Suswono candidate pair.
“This regional election is so unique. Have all the candidates cast their votes in Jakarta?” Anies said after voting at a polling station in Lebak Bulus, South Jakarta on Wednesday morning.
“Well, if they didn’t, what can we do anyway?”
Many saw the statement as a blow to the Ridwan Kamil-Suswono pair, who are supported by political parties of the Onward Indonesia Coalition (KIM), the electoral alliance behind the victory of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka in February’s presidential race.
Former West Java governor Ridwan could not cast his vote for the Jakarta election as he is still legally registered as a resident of Bandung, West Java. Meanwhile Suswono has been registered as a resident of Bogor, one of Jakarta’s satellite cities in West Java.
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Responding to Anies’ statement, Ridwan told reporters that his legal domicile did not affect his commitment to developing Jakarta.
“If you would like to laugh at that, go ahead. But one thing for sure is that we are still committed to building our democracy,” he said.
Over 8 million registered voters in the capital city were expected to cast their ballots on Wednesday, to choose between three candidates seeking the capital city’s highest office.
Most attention had been given to the race between Ridwan and his rival, former cabinet secretary Pramono Anung, who was nominated by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P). Pramono is running with actor-cum-politician Rano Karno.