Danny elected new West Java governor

Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung

For the first time in 30 years West Java has a governor with a nonmilitary background, following the gubernatorial election here on Thursday that ended with supporters from the losing candidate rioting inside the legislative council.

The West Java Legislative Council elected the former province secretary Danny Setiawan and Nu'man Abdul Hakim as West Java's new governor and deputy governor. Danny and Nu'man won the gubernatorial race with 49 votes, beating their rivals by 10.

The other pair of candidates were former West Java military commander Tayo Tarmadi and Rudy Harsa Tanaya, a member of the country's ruling party the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).

Danny was nominated by a coalition of the Golkar and the United Development Party (PPP) factions.

Thursday's election was the first time that the West Java council elected their governor, as a result of the 2001 regional autonomy law.

Previously all governors were appointed by the central government.

Danny's election also marks a break from past governors who all had a military background.

During former president Soeharto's 32 year rule, West Java was seen as a backbone to security in Jakarta. Consequently, Soeharto reserved the governorship in West Java for retired military officers as he did for Central and East Java.

The PDI Perjuangan faction holds most of the seats at the council however were unable to secure a victory for their candidates Tayo and Rudy.

PDI Perjuangan faction head Rahardi Zakaria could not conceal his disappointment, shouting "there are traitors in this room" after the election result was announced.

Outside the hundreds of PDI Perjuangan supporters vented their anger by destroying the buses with which councillors arrived at the council building.

However Danny's suspected involvement in a corruption case, cast a shadow over his victory. The election also comes a day after prosecutors here named a Golkar faction council member and a PPP faction council member as suspects in Danny's graft case.

Before the council can swear in Danny as West Java's new governor, he must also pass a three-day scrutiny period.

The election could be annulled if the public finds fault in the process or in the governor's track record.

In that case Danny may face the same fate of Lampung governor- elect Alzier M. Thabrani who has still not been sworn in as governor. Jakarta refused to endorse his election in October last year over last minute charges that he was involved in a series of corruption cases.