Indonesian capital’s next governor decided in April run-off
The election for the new governor of Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia, will be decided in a run-off vote on April 19, said the country’s election authorities last week.
Incumbent Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama.(Photo:VNA)
Jakarta(VNA) – The election for the new governor of Jakarta, the capital city ofIndonesia, will be decided in a run-off vote on April 19, said the country’selection authorities last week.
In the first roundheld on February 15, incumbent governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama held a narrowlead of about 43 percent while former Minister of Education and Culture Anies Baswedancame second with 40 percent.
According to head ofJakarta election commission Sumarno, a run-off will be held between these twobecause no candidate reached more than 50 percent of votes.
More than 7.1million Indonesians voted at some 13,000 polling stations in the first round ofthe election.
Purnama, thecity's first non-Muslim governor for half a century and its first ethnic Chinese, has been ontrial for comments he made about the Quran that were deemed insulting to Islamand Muslims, triggering widespread public protests since October last year.
The vote isseen as a test of whether pluralism and a tolerant brand of Islam in theworld's most populous Muslim-majority country are being eroded.-VNA
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Incumbent Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama.(Photo:VNA) 
