Gerindra Ready to Back Risma's Bid for Second Tenure

Surabaya, E Java (Antara) - The Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) party is ready to support Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini's bid for second term of office next year. Risma is a competent, honest, and modest figure who deserves to lead Surabaya for another five years, chief of the party's city executive board BF Sutadi stated here on Thursday. "In view of that, Gerindra is ready to nominate her. However, a coalition needs to be formed with other parties to nominate her," he said at the city legislative council. Gerindra, which has six seats in the city legislative council, must coalesce with other parties to nominate Risma, he explained. Sutadi noted that Gerindra has a chance of coalescing with the Prosperous Justice Party. He did not rule out the possibility that Gerinda, along with the Red-and-White coalition, which had nominated Prabowo Subianto for presidency in the July 9 poll, will propose at least two nominees as the Surabaya mayor. "If the coalition has a total of 25 seats, it can propose at least two candidates," he remarked. He noted that Gerindra has, however, not yet discussed the planned coalition with other parties with regard to the Surabaya mayor election next year. Sutadi added that he himself had not yet asked Risma to seek re-election. (*) Reported by Abdul Hakim