PDIP Will Pair Gibran With Achmad Purnomo In Pilwalkot Solo

JAKARTA - The election for the mayor (Pilwalkot) Solo 2020 from the PDIP has caught the public's attention after President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi) eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, decided to join the contest. Gibran will also run as a candidate for mayor along with the incumbent candidate Achmad Purnomo.

Chairman of the DPP for the Election of Central Java (Central Java) Bambang Wuryanto denied that the fit and proper test for the Solo Pilwalkot was carried out at the DPP Party because Gibran was involved in the contest. Bambang said, not only Solo, this rule was also applied to other regions. However, unfortunately he did not specify which areas.

Fit and proper tests, said Bambang, can indeed be carried out in the DPP and not always in the DPD of the Party. According to him, the party could do this because it was there to explore the lack of data submitted by the DPD.

"That was before Solo. There was before Solo. When Solo thought it was special? No. All equal treatment," he said, at the DPR Building, Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Monday, February 10.

Regarding the Solo Pilwalkot, Bambang revealed that his party does have its own strategy that has been prepared. One of them, will propose candidates for mayor and deputy mayor himself.

"Here's the requirement for registering that administratively there are 20 percent of the seats. If there are 20 percent of the seats, only nine. PDIP in Solo has 30 seats. This means that we are very strong enough to nominate ourselves. There are more than half of them," he said.

Even so, Bambang said, his party opened the door if other parties wanted to take part in nominating the candidate for mayor and deputy mayor of Solo who were the party's choice.

"If other parties want to participate, please go ahead. But for the policy of determining candidates for mayor and vice mayor for Solo, PDIP has its own strategy. Whereas then the Solo City strategy is accepted by other parties and supports ya monggo," he explained.

As is known, currently for the Solo Pilwalkot there are three candidates who have registered through Megawati Soekarnoputri's party. They are Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Deputy Mayor of Solo Achmad Purnomo and Teguh Prakosa.

Bambang said Gibran would not fill the position as a candidate for deputy mayor. This is because, according to Bambang, on various occasions Gibran emphasized that he was running as a candidate for mayor not deputy mayor.

"If Mas Gibran was asked how to become a representative? He answered 'I registered as a candidate for mayor, right? Yes, of course in the talks and fit and proper tests, everything will be explored," he said.

However, Bambang emphasized that regardless of the decisions that have been agreed upon and taken by the party, all cadres must obey. No exception for Gibran, even though his background is the son of the president.

"PDIP understands, the concept is perpendicular to samina wa athona. The decision above us is all upright. Then our skat B is, better B, no, we are upright. Whoever is a party cadre. Anyone who feels a PDI Perjuangan cadre and is still feel like a cadre. What has been decided by the party, it is obligatory to be upright, "he explained.

Gibran's duet scheme with Achmad Purnomo

Bambang said, any schemes or proposals related to the 2020 Solo Pilwalkot will be discussed by his party. Including, pairing Gibran with the incumbent candidate Achmad Purnomo.

"If people speculate then suppose, people make pictures, speculate, who does it? Everything has pluses and minuses," he said.

However, once again Bambang emphasized, the final decision rests with the PDIP DPP. So, whatever decision has been made, all cadres are obliged to comply with it.

"In this case, the input is certainly accepted, but the final decision will be at the party's central leadership board," he explained.

University of Al-Azhar Political Observer Ujang Komarudin said that in order to avoid turmoil and split, the PDIP would later decide to pair Gibran with Achmad Purnomo. However, the position of mayor will still be filled by Gibran.

"It seems to avoid turmoil in PDIP Solo. Gibran will be promoted as a candidate for mayor and Achmad Purnomo as his running mate," said Ujang, when contacted by VOI.

From the start, said Ujang, Gibran's advancement in the 2020 Solo Pilwalkot contest was indeed prepared to fill the position as a candidate for mayor not as a deputy mayor. However, in terms of political experience, Achmad Purnomo is far above Gibran.

"That's politics. Anything can happen in politics. Yes, from the start it was prepared as a candidate for mayor," he explained.