REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Chairman of the Executive Board of Great Indonesian Movement (Gerindra) Party Habiburokhman stated that his party does not need an approval from Basuki Tjahaja Purnama alias Ahok in naming Jakarta's vice governor candidate.

"Gerindra will propose candidates who fit Ahok's profession, but it does not mean that Gerindra needs to ask for Ahok's approval," Habiburokhman said in a statement here on Monday.

The laws No. 12/2008 and No. 49/2008 stipulate that the regional head submit two candidates for regional deputy head based on proposals made by a political party or a group of political parties. In line with the laws, Ahok has the responsibility to submit the names of the candidates to the Regional Legislative Council, but it must be based on proposals from a political party supporting him.

Ahok is supported by Gerindra and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle; so, he has to follow the law. If he were an independent candidate, Ahok will have been free to choose two candidates. Gerindra is ready to propose its best cadres--Ahmad Riza and M Taufik--as candidates, Habiburokhman said. Ahok will be installed as Jakarta governor following the election of Joko "Jokowi" Widodo as Indonesia's president.

Last week, Ahok announced that he had quit Gerindra Party, which had supported his political career. He explained that his decision to leave the party arose from his disagreement with the party's proposal regarding a bill on indirect regional head elections.

Since the reform era, Indonesia has been holding direct presidential, regional head, and legislative elections. A bill, however, is now being tabled to amend the election system, according to which the regional heads will be elected by regional legislators rather than being directly elected by the people.

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