News analysis

Political comeback for Ahok? Not so soon

A comeback for former Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, it seems, remains far from his mind, at least for now. PHOTO: AFP
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JAKARTA - Ahok's release from prison on Thursday (Jan 24) was widely anticipated, with many hoping that the former Jakarta governor, whose real name is Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, will make a quick return to politics, amid the ongoing campaign for Indonesia's next president.

But his ardent supporters, who stuck by him while he was serving time following a conviction for blasphemy against Islam in April 2017, are set to be disappointed.

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