Surabaya. Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini, commonly known as Risma, has announced plans to step down from her ministerial duties to concentrate on her gubernatorial campaign in East Java.

Nominated by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Risma officially registered her candidacy on Thursday, accompanied by her running mate, prominent Muslim scholar Zahrul Azhar, at the provincial election commission in Surabaya.

“I will resign as the social affairs minister. Tomorrow, I intend to meet with the president to formally tender my resignation,” Risma said in Surabaya.

She insisted on her desire to personally meet with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, noting that he had directly approached her for the ministerial role in 2020.

“I believe it is necessary to submit my resignation in person to the president. Although there is no legal requirement for ministers to resign [when running for governor], I’ve decided to take this step. Ultimately, it will be up to the president whether or not he accepts my resignation,” she added.

Risma, 62, served two terms as mayor of Surabaya, East Java’s capital, before her ministerial appointment. During her tenure, Surabaya became the first city in Indonesia to implement an electronic public service system.

Her plan to resign comes amid increasing tension between President Jokowi and PDI-P, particularly since the February 14 presidential election. Jokowi implicitly endorsed the eventual election winner, Prabowo Subianto, who selected Jokowi’s son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, as his vice-presidential running mate.

Previously a longtime PDI-P member who rose to political prominence with the party’s support, Jokowi has seen his relationship with the party shift. His son Gibran, who became mayor of Solo with PDI-P’s backing, recently parted ways with the party before securing the vice-presidential nomination alongside Prabowo.

In the presidential election, PDI-P’s candidate, former Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, finished last in the three-man race.

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