Jakarta won’t have deputy governor until next year, Gerindra says

DKI JAKARTA - JAKARTA. The Gerindra Party's Jakarta chapter has expressed doubt that Jakartans will soon have a new deputy governor, following a prolonged dispute between the party and its long-time ally the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) on the matter.

Gerindra and the PKS have yet to meet, let alone agree on the mechanism to select candidates to be proposed to City Council.

"It's unlikely [the names] will be submitted [this year]. It would be impossible in this condition since our plan to have a meeting has never been realized," Gerindra Jakarta chapter deputy chairman Syarif told kompas.com on Monday.

The two parties had agreed to hold a meeting to discuss the mechanism for screening candidates, Syarif claimed.

However, no significant progress has been made although the position has been vacant for around four months, since former deputy governor Sandiaga Uno, who is a Gerindra politician, resigned from the post to become Gerindra's chairman Prabowo Subianto’s running mate in the upcoming presidential election.

The PKS, meanwhile, kept its stance to reject the test as it would undermine the party's capability in selecting a proper candidate.  

Syarif said he planned to organize the meeting on Thursday.

"We will send another invitation letter [for a meeting with PKS] tomorrow," he said.

The Home Ministry previously urged that the selection process be expedited given the crucial position for Jakarta as the capital city.