Radhiyya Indra, Jakarta – The regional leadership councils (DPDs) of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) in Jakarta have proposed several names to run in the upcoming Jakarta gubernatorial race in November, following separate plenary sessions on Sunday.
The DPD PSI West Jakarta chapter suggestions include the party's chairman Kaesang Pangarep, who is also President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's youngest son; Jakarta acting governor Heru Budi Hartono; the PSI's board of trustees' deputy chairwoman Grace Natalie; State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir; podcaster and celebrity Deddy Corbuzier and former Jakarta governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama.
The list of names was said to have come from a discussion between the party's city and district-level administrators during the plenary session, and to have taken into account recommendations from West Jakarta residents.
"We have involved various elements of society, especially in West Jakarta, and listened to their aspirations to ensure that our recommended candidates are the best and most suitable to lead Jakarta in the future," the party's West Jakarta chapter acting head William Aditya Sarana said in a statement released on Sunday.
PSI West Jakarta will hand the list of names to the party's provincial branch executive board (DPW) for further consideration. The board will then evaluate the names as part of the PSI's selection process to choose the governor and deputy governor candidates it is backing in the next regional elections.
"We are looking for leaders who are not only able to manage this city well, but also have alignment with the people and a commitment to Jakarta's human development," William added in the statement.
Separately, the PSI Central Jakarta office also proposed six names following its plenary sessions, including Kaesang and Heru Budi. The other four candidates were former West Java governor Ridwan Kamil; Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, who is also former Jakarta deputy governor; politician Fajar Sidik and Jakarta City Council speaker Prasetyo Edi Marsudi.
Indonesia will see its first-ever simultaneous regional head elections this year on Nov. 27, with 37 provinces and 508 cities and regencies combined voting for their future governors, mayors or regents.
Jakarta itself will have lost its capital status to Nusantara in East Kalimantan in November and become a "special region" (DKJ).