Jakarta. Deputy Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama will step in as acting governor of the capital city on May 18 as Governor Joko Widodo begins a long leave of absence to focus on his presidential campaign.
Basuki said he would have no problem on taking the role.
“There’s nothing special about being left on my own to do the job. I will work as usual, I’ll call Jokowi,” he said. “The difference is now I can’t meet him every morning here at [the City Hall].”
Basuki says he has important decisions ahead of him when he steps in as the acting governor.
According to a source close to Basuki, the deputy governor will rotate some posts within the city administration.
“Ahok [Basuki] doesn’t want any officers to not take their jobs seriously. He wants the development target to be met as soon as possible,” the source said.
Basuki confirmed the information, saying there would be some reshuffling.
“But it will be after the presidential election,” he said.
Joko had previously asked President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s permission to run as a presidential candidate while his term as Jakarta governor remained unfinished.
However, the request was not actually an administrative requirement but rather a diplomatic gesture.
Source/Fuente: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/jakarta/basuki-become-acting-governo...
