Democracy belongs to the people. Let the people be involved.
By
KOMPAS EDITOR
·3 minutes read
The 2024 Presidential Election is still more than two years away. A number of figures have claimed that they are eligible to run for president or vice president.
Most of these figures are still introducing themselves in the old way, on banners or billboards hung along the streets in a number of areas. Others are using the more contemporary approach of posting social media updates or being active on new media, and interacting directly with the public. In the surveys conducted by a number of institutions, including the Kompas Research and Development poll in May, the figures using contemporary methods tended to have higher popularity.
Various institutions with various interests are continuing to conduct opinion poll of the candidates bidding for the national leadership positions. The results of the latest Charta Politika survey, published on Monday (12/20/2021), showed that the top three presidential candidates among the public were still Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo with an electability rate of 25.8 percent, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto (22.3 percent), and Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan (17.7 percent). They were folloed by West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil (5.4 percent), Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno (4 percent), and Democratic Party chairman Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono with 2.3 percent electability (Kompas, 21/12/2021).
These figures constantly appear in a number of surveys. New names started appearing in Charta Politika’s latest survey, such as Prosperous Justice Party president Ahmad Syaikhu (0.3 percent) and Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Andika Perkasa (0.9 percent).
Other figures who had appeared in previous surveys include State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir (1.3 percent), former TNI commander Gen. (ret) Gatot Nurmantyo (1.1 percent), National Awakening Party chairman Muhaimin Iskandar (1 percent), House of Representatives Speaker Puan Maharani (0.8 percent), and Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto (0.5 percent). Their electability rates have generally remained unchanged.
As many as 24 potential presidential candidates appeared in the Charta Politika survey conducted between 29 Nov. and 6 Dec. 2021. Respondents also selected 14 vice presidential candidates, with Sandiaga Uno topping the list with 27.7 percent electability. Other newly emerging names include TNI commander Andika (2.2 percent), Bogor Mayor Bima Arya Sugiarto (0.6 percent), and Gelora Party chairman M. Anis Matta (0.1 percent).
The rise of new figures as presidential or vice presidential candidates, like Andika, is not surprising. Before every election, the names of the incumbent and former TNI Commander always emerge as an alternative choice. The more names that appear, the more democracy can excite the people’s participation. Candidates are not the monopoly of political parties.
Political parties have yet to finish consolidating, so it is still possible that additional candidates will emerge. However, it is not certain that they can run for president or vice president in 2024, because their nomination must first go through a political party, each of which must meet the presidential threshold to nominate a candidate. Democracy belongs to the people. Let the people be involved.
This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi.