Jokowi Granted Temporary Leave from Governor Post For Presidential BID

Jakarta (Antara) - Current Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo, or popularly known as Jokowi, was granted permission by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to take a temporary leave from his post to run for presidency in the 2014 election. "President Yudhoyono said he will publish the written permission letter tomorrow (Wednesday)," Jokowi stated here on Tuesday after meeting the president at the presidential palace. According to Jokowi, his temporary leave will commence from May 14 onwards until the presidential election is over. As Jokowi will be on leave, Deputy Governor Basuki Tjahaya Purnama will automatically be handed over the task of leading the Jakarta administration activities. Today, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono held separate meetings with presidential candidates Jokowi from Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) and Let Gen (ret) Prabowo Subianto from Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra). Jokowi arrived at the Presidential Palace at 1 p.m. West Indonesian Time (WIB), while Prabowo Subianto is scheduled to meet Yudhoyono at 5 p.m. WIB. Earlier, Jokowi stated that he had plans to meet President Yudhoyono to seek permission to take a temporary leave from the post of Jakarta Governor in order to run for presidency. "I have sent all the necessary papers to the presidential office and Home Affairs Ministry. But, I need to meet the president directly to ask his permission," Jokowi remarked. (*) Reporting by Muhammad Arief Iskandar Translating and Editing by Amie Fenia Arimbi