Ahok must go on legally mandated leave during runoff campaign: Election commission

Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama must be fantastically frustrated at the moment, especially after learning that he will be legally required to temporarily leave his office yet again soon.

Yesterday, the Jakarta General Election Commission (KPU DKI Jakarta) announced that the runoff election between incumbents Ahok and rival Anies Baswedan would include a campaign period after all, less than a week after they clearly stated that there wouldn’t be one (so decisive). 

And now, as expected, it has been confirmed that Ahok will have to go on another legally mandated leave during the campaign period.

“That’s right, [Ahok must go on leave],” confirmed KPU DKI Jakarta Commissioner Dahliah Umar yesterday evening, as quoted by Detik.

As to when the campaign period will come into effect, and, subsequently, how long Ahok will have to go on leave for, Dahliah said that it is likely to begin in early March and end on April 15, four days before election day on April 19.

That means Ahok and his deputy, Djarot Saiful Hidayat, could be forced to go on leave for up to six weeks, after having previously gone on a four-month campaign leave for the first round of the election.

The law states that any incumbent running for office must go on leave during a campaign period in order to prevent them using state/regional finances to fund their campaigns. Ahok tried to fight against this rule by filing a judicial review to the Constitutional Court, arguing that the law temporarily robs him off his right to work for the people, but his plea was denied.

Ahok’s temporary replacement during the first campaign period, Soni Sumarsono, caused controversy after suspicions emerged that he abused his authority while in office.

Ahok has not yet commented on these latest developments, so it’s not yet known whether or not he’ll seek to challenge the runoff campaign period and/or the legally mandated leave.

Should the result of the first round of the election remain uncontested by the candidates, the runoff election will take place on April 19. Otherwise, it could be pushed as far back as June, effectively prolonging the campaign period as well.