For months, Ridwan Kamil has been speculated to run as a candidate for Jakarta Governor in the 2017 elections, with the Bandung mayor never really committing himself to either side of the rumors.
But today, Ridwan finally confirmed that he’s not going to run for the top job in Jakarta, at least not in 2017.
“I will finish my mandate as Bandung mayor until 2018,” Ridwan said at a press conference in Bandung City Hall today, as quoted by BeritaSatu.
Many Bandung citizens were delighted by the popular mayor’s decision.
The decision not to run for Jakarta was spot on. We want Kang Emil (Ridwan Kamil) to further West Java. There’s the challenge of intolerance and poverty here.
Ridwan’s decision will all but pave the way for Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama to be re-elected in 2017, as the Bandung mayor was the only politician to have come close to the incumbent’s popularity in Jakarta in recent polls.
Despite being mostly beloved in his hometown and being generally seen as a progressive and forward thinking leader, Ridwan recently caused a controversy for his discriminatory comments about the LGBT community.
