Police Expect Heightened Political Tension Ahead of Jakarta Election
Jakarta. Police expect the political climate in the capital to take a turn for the worse ahead of next year's Jakarta gubernatorial election, Indonesia's top cop said on Wednesday (23/03).
This emerged after National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti discussed security preparations for the election with Jakarta Police officials.
"We will face a heated situation, particularly leading up to the 2017 regional elections. And the local politics in Jakarta will also heat up," Badrodin said. "If this is not addressed properly, it will have an adverse effect on other issues."
Attention should also be given to possible friction, including protests and clashes, between supporters of the different candidates, the police chief added.
Incumbent Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama was the first to declare his candidacy for the Jakarta gubernatorial election. He will be an independent candidate, along with city official Heru Budihartono as his running mate.
Other candidates expected to join next year's race include law expert Yusril Ihza Mahendra, former minister Adhyaksa Dault, businessman Sandiaga Uno and rock star Ahmad Dhani.
Ridwan Kamil, the mayor of Bandung, West Java, officially bowed out of the election earlier, having chosen to focus on successfully completing his current term, which ends in 2018.
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