A Political Contract for Ahok

A closed meeting at the house of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri last week was a trial of sorts for Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok). On this occasion, Megawati sharply criticized the incumbent governor's communication style. Megawati hoped to find an effective way to prevent Ahok from making controversial statements. "If only there were some magic tape to put (over his mouth) so that he would talk as we hope. But there's no such thing," said Megawati, as quoted by PDI-P Secretary-General Hasto Kristiyanto.

The three-hour meeting, attended by top party officials such as Olly Dondokambey, Bambang D.H., Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung and Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani, was held before PDI-P's official declaration endorsing Ahok and Djarot in the upcoming election. The objective was to discuss technical matters before officially registering them with the General Elections Commission (KPUD) of Jakarta.