PKB Regarding Empty Box Opportunities For The Jakarta Regional Head Election: Not Prohibited, Right?

PKB Deputy Chair Jazilul Fawaid/PHOTO: Diah Ayu-VOI

The invitation of the Advanced Indonesia Coalition (KIM) party to PKB, PKS, and NasDem to join KIM Plus in the Jakarta Pilkada is considered a scenario to tackle Ridwan Kamil's competitor, the governor candidate who will be promoted.

Therefore, in the Jakarta Pilkada, Ridwan Kamil has the potential to fight empty boxes or without potential cagub-cawagub opponents.

Deputy General Chairperson (Waketum) of PKB Jazilul Fawaid assessed that empty boxes are actually allowed in Law Number 10 of 2016 concerning the Election of Governors, Regents, and Mayors (Pilkada)

"Doesn't mean it can happen according to the constitution. It's not prohibited, right?" said Jazilul at the PKB DPP office, Central Jakarta, Friday, August 9.

However, Jazilul emphasized that it does not mean that the phenomenon of an empty box will occur in this year's Jakarta gubernatorial election.

Although PKB Chairman Muhaimin Iskandar and Gerindra Party Chair Prabowo Subianto met to discuss the regional elections at Prabowo's official residence last Thursday, August 8, there was no discussion about the empty box.

"We haven't discussed it there. What is clear is that there will be no steps taken by PKB that violate the constitutional rules," said Jazilul.

Jazilul said, in yesterday's meeting, Cak Imin and Prabowo stated that the agreement between the two parties would cooperate in the 2024 Pilkada investigation.

He did not deny that one of the areas where PKB was projected to collaborate with Gerindra was the Jakarta Pilkada.

Although he agreed to cooperate in the regional elections, Jazilul admitted that PKB had not yet determined whether to switch support from Anies Baswedan to Ridwan Kamil (RK).

"There has been no decision to support Mr. RK, PKB. Yes, later let the Regional Head Election Dec (manage) which is technical about electoral matters, what will the network look like, now that's technical. What is clear is that PKB is in synergy with Gerindra," said Jazilul.