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JAKARTA. The Golkar Party has decided to throw its support behind Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama in the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election, a party member has announced.
"The party has decided to support Ahok. We will deliver the official party statement on Tuesday," Golkar's coordinating political, legal and security affairs division head Yorrys Raweyai told thejakartapost.com on Thursday.
Yorrys did not provide any specific details about the support the veteran party will offer Ahok in his campaign, or whether it will help collect copies of ID cards to ensure he meets the candidacy requirements.
Golkar would decide on the specifics of the support later on, Yorrys said, adding that whatever the form of support, the party has committed to back Ahok in the election.
If it is made official, Golkar will be the third political party to support Ahok’s bid for reelection to the capital’s top post, following Nasdem and the People's Conscience Party (Hanura) also declaring their support.
On Thursday afternoon, another Golkar politician Nusron Wahid visited the headquarters of Teman Ahok (Friends of Ahok), a group of volunteers that collect citizens' ID cards so that Ahok can meet the minimum eligibility requirements for an independent candidate to run in the election.
During his visit, Nusron also hinted at the party’s support of the outspoken governor, saying that he had come to discuss strategies to help Ahok successfully register as a candidate for the election, as reported by kompas.com.
The former East Belitung regent served as a Golkar party lawmaker in the House of Representatives during the 2009 to 2014 period, but resigned in 2012 to join the Gerindra Party who supported him in the 2012 Jakarta election as Joko "Jokowi" Widodo’s deputy governor candidate.
Ahok resigned from Gerindra in 2014 and has repeatedly insisted that he plans to run as an independent candidate in the Jakarta election next year with the support of Teman Ahok. (Callistasia Anggun Wijaya)
