Paku Alam IX wins deputy gubernatorial election<\/p>\n
Asip A. Hasani, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
The head of Yogyakarta's Paku Alam royal family, Paku Alam IX,
\nwas elected as deputy governor on Monday, ending an unusual and
\ntight vote contested by the heirs of the royal family.<\/p>\n
Paku Alam IX, whose real name is Ambarkusumo, won a second
\nballot during a plenary session of the provincial legislative
\ncouncil against his half brother Prince Anglingkusumo.<\/p>\n
Anglingkusumo actually garnered the most votes in the first
\nballot, securing 26 of the 52 votes cast by council members,
\nwhile Paku Alam obtained 25 votes, with one vote being declared
\ninvalid. In accordance with the rules governing such elections,
\nto claim victory a candidate must secure votes from at least half
\nof the total members of the council attending the ballot, plus
\none. A second ballot was therefore required. Anglingkusumo,
\nhowever, dropped a vote in the second ballot and obtained just 25
\nvotes, while Paku Alam secured 27 to win the race.<\/p>\n
\"Of course I am happy to be elected (as deputy governor),\"
\nPaku Alam IX, who is known as a low-profile personality, told
\nreporters after the plenary session.<\/p>\n
When asked about his plans after being sworn in, he said, \"I
\nwill just follow Ngerso Dalem (Governor Hamengku Buwono X).\"<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Anglingkusumo could not hide his disappointment
\nover the result of the election when he left the council
\nbuilding.<\/p>\n
\"There are still three days, before this (the result)
\nis endorsed, to examine whether or not there were any money
\npolitics behind the ballot,\" he told reporters.<\/p>\n
The provincial council has given the public three days from
\nthe date of Monday's election to send written information related
\nto any alleged wrongdoings in the conduct of the deputy
\ngovernor's election, which could see the result being annulled.
\nThe council is scheduled to meet again on Nov. 7 to decide
\nwhether to approve the election result.<\/p>\n
Governor Hamengku Buwono X, who witnessed the vote, expressed
\nhis hope that Paku Alam IX would be able to cooperate with him if
\nhe was sworn in as his deputy, a post which had been vacant for
\nmore than two years.<\/p>\n
\"It's important that the presence of a deputy governor boost
\nthe effectiveness of the provincial administration's work,\"
\nHemengku Buwono, who is also the sultan of Yogyakarta Keraton,
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
There had been keen competition for the post of deputy
\ngovernor among members of the royal family of Puro Paku Alaman, a
\nsmall kingdom whose territory covers Paku Alaman subdistrict and
\nsome areas in the Kulonprogo regency, Yogyakarta. The provincial
\nlegislative council decided early this month that the race for
\ndeputy governor would be open to all children of the late Paku
\nAlam VIII, the previous deputy governor who had ruled alongside
\ngovernor Hemengku Buwono IX.<\/p>\n
The decision appeared to contradict the principle that the
\nruler of Paku Alaman, Paku Alam IX, should automatically be
\ninstalled as deputy governor due to Yogyakarta's special status.<\/p>\n
Many believe that Paku Alam's victory in Monday's election was
\nalso a victory for Hamengku Buwono.<\/p>\n
A close aide to Hamengku Buwono X, who asked for
\nanonymity, said that the Sultan preferred Paku Alam IX as deputy
\ngovernor over Anglingkusumo because the latter had the potential
\nto oppose him on many strategic issues.<\/p>\n
\"On the contrary, Paku Alam will do whatever is ordered by
\nHamengku Buwono,\" the source told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/paku-alam-ix-wins-deputy-gubernatorial-election-1447893297",
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