Majority Of Political Parties In Surabaya City Support Machfud Arifin, PDIP: We Are Usually Surrounded By Us

PDIP Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto and PDIP Deputy Secretary General Arif Wibowo (Photo: DPP PDIP Documentation)

JAKARTA - PDI-P Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto said his party had invited a number of internal cadres from the city of Surabaya to sharpen the political map for the mayoral election which will be held on December 9.

This is done because they have not yet decided on the successor candidate for the Mayor of Surabaya, Tri Rismaharini, who has served for two terms in the city of heroes.

"Just now we did the sharpening by inviting from Surabaya. Previously we had invited the Surabaya internal cadre to do the sharpening of political mapping in Surabaya," said Hasto Kristiyanto in an online press conference, Friday, August 21.

PDIP feels this sharpening is necessary, because they want whoever replaces Risma to have the same quality. Moreover, during the 10 years of Risma's leadership in Surabaya, there has been much progress.

In addition, Risma is a firm leader because she doesn't compromise when making decisions. This has been proven in various incidents, such as when he refused to open inner-city toll roads because they could disturb city parks that were to be built.

"Therefore we prepare well," he said.

Furthermore, regarding the advancement of the former East Java Regional Police Chief Machfud Arifin who has been supported by Golkar PKB, PPP, PKS, PAN, Gerindra and Democrats, it does not worry PDIP. Because, Hasto assessed, PDIP was usually under siege during the Surabaya Pilwalkot since five years ago.

He said that his party was intercepted by other political parties when they wanted to bring in the pair Risma and Wisnu for the second time because they fought an empty box.

"At that time all parties tried to thwart the nominations of both Mrs. Risma and Mas Wisnu. Then there was a process at the Constitutional Court which allowed a single candidate to face an empty box," he said.

After this refinement, PDIP will later announce that the pair of candidates for the mayor of Surabaya will be carried out together with the regencies and cities of Bali, although there is no mention of the specific time.

Hasto revealed that the publication of the recommendation provision in Surabaya will be carried out in the near future. "The city of Surabaya will make a decision in the near future, the announcement will be made together with Bali on the theme of cultural environment, to prepare the commitment of the regional head candidates," he said.

Previously, General Chairman Megawati Soekarnoputri also admitted that it was difficult to find a replacement for Risma as a candidate for Surabaya mayor.

"If I may call it looking for Mrs. Risma, in my opinion it is a burden for me. Her extraordinary struggle, dedication, has made the city of Surabaya a city that is now also famous in the world. Because of what? Because the heat from the city of Surabaya can be lowered by two degrees, It's no joke, it's an extraordinary job, ”said Megawati at the party school for the regional head candidate from PDIP, Friday, August 21.

He also advised the regional head candidates to imitate Risma's success in leading the city of Surabaya. This is because Risma's performance as regional head cannot be doubted.