Megawati Denies PDIP Having Difficulty Finding Risma's Replacement In The Surabaya Pilkada

JAKARTA - PDI-P Chairman Megawati Soekarnoputri denied that her party had difficulty finding a replacement for Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini (Risma) who had served for two terms. Megawati emphasized that PDIP is not a party that cannot complete its choices on time.

"That it seems very difficult to find a candidate for Surabaya, that's not the case. Because all of that there will definitely be a candidate," said Megawati while briefing the candidate for regional head of the 4th wave who had received a recommendation from her party, Friday, August 28.

Megawati said all regional head candidates should be able to imitate Risma's leadership in Surabaya. He even praised his men.

"Mbak Risma, I know very well. I raised my head because I was a very ordinary regional head. I'm not raising it up, take a look at Surabaya. What is the proof," he said.

On this day, PDIP again canceled announcing the candidate for mayor for Surabaya even though it will actually be announced in the 4th or last batch. The reason for the cancellation was due to technical problems.

According to the Chairman of the DPP Puan Maharani, his party has already pocketed recommendations for candidates for mayor of Surabaya. But the announcement was postponed because the East Java PDIP DPD and Surabaya DPC were not connected in the online announcement.

"Because it has not been connected, it will be announced at a time to be announced again," said Puan in the online announcement, Friday, August 28.

Puan emphasized that even though the postponement was carried out again, the recommendation letter signed by PDIP chief Megawati Sukarnoputri was ready to be submitted.

"So related to the city of Surabaya, the PDI Perjuangan DPP of course already has a name that will be included as a candidate for regional head and as a candidate for deputy regional head. For information, PDI Perjuangan is ready to advance in the city of Surabaya," he said.

Meanwhile, regarding the cancellation, PDIP Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto said his party had heard public input as a continuation of Tri Rismaharini's leadership. Later, PDIP will consolidate the Pilwalkot Surabaya issue again this weekend.

"For the city of Surabaya, we were ordered by the chairman of the general to consolidate with all ranks of the PDI-P DPD on Sunday tomorrow," said Hasto.

He said that in Surabaya, PDIP has many cadres who are able to bring party honor such as Bambang DH, Mayor Risma, Deputy Mayor Wisnu Sakti Buana, to DPR members for the Surabaya electoral district Puti Guntur Soekarno.

They are also the ones who are waiting to participate in guarding Megawati's decision regarding who will be the next candidate for leader of Surabaya City. "When the candidate for the head of the Surabaya region is announced, all party ranks will continue to oversee the decision which is the prerogative of the General Chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri," he concluded.