PAN General Chairman Zulkifli Hasan said his party was still grieving for the loss of the pair of Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) – Sylviana Murni, the candidates for governor and vice governor in the first round of the election.
PAN in a coalition with a number of other political parties including the Democratic Party, the National Awakening Party (PKB), and the United Development Party (PPP) – supported Agus-Sylviana.
The pair managed only to garner 17.05 percent of the votes, far lagging behind Ahok-Djarot leading with 42.99 percent followed by Anies-Sandiaga 39.95 percent.
The election had to be conducted again between two leading pairs as there was no candidates collecting more than 50 percent of the votes.
With Agus – Sylviana pair out of contest, the people of Jakarta would have to choose between two remaining pairs – incumbent Basuki Tjahja Purnama (Ahok)- Djarot Saiful Hidayat and Anied Baswedan-Sandiago Uno – to be governor of Jakarta for the next five years.
Zulkifli told reporters here that his party needed time to recover from the sadness over the loss of its favorite candidates.
He said he needed to meet with other members of the coalition to discuss the favorites in the second round.
“We need to meet SBY (Demokrat), Cak Imin (PKB) and the general chairman of PPP. We will discuss our position in the second round of election,” he said.
Zulkifli said currently PANs cadres are split with some favoring Basuki Tjahaja Purnama-Djarot Saiful Hidayat and other choosing Anies Baswedan – Sandiaga Uno.(*)
