REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Party of Functional Groups (Golkar) officially declared its support to Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, widely known as Ahok, to advance to the 2017 gubernatorial election.
The decision was marked by the delivery of a decree signed by Golkar's chairman, Setya Novanto, in Jakarta on Friday.
"We would like to support Ahok's stride to become a candidate in the next Jakarta gubernatorial election," Fayakhun, head of Golkar's regional board, stated in Jakarta today.
Fayakhun stressed that the party supported Ahok regardless of whether he chose to proceed as an independent candidate or contest the election on a party ticket.
As long as Ahok can easily step forward as a candidate, Golkar will continue to back the former regent of East Belitung.
"The only thing we are concerned about is bringing about improvement in Jakarta, which is why we support him," Fayakhun noted.
The incumbent governor said he has been particularly close to the party since his time as a member of the House of Representatives.
"For a long time, Golkar has been voicing the people's aspirations and supporting them. It just so happens that my friends in the party have known me since I was in the House of Representatives. My father was also a member of Golkar," Ahok revealed.
Golkar's decision to back Ahok adds to the support earlier declared by the Corporatist party NasDem and the People's Conscience Party.
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