Waiting for Elites’ Commitment

The supporters of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo have started to heat up national politics as party elites take steps to prepare for the 2024 elections.

KOMPAS/CYPRIANUS ANTO SAPTOWALYONO

President Joko Widodo at the event "United Nusantara: One Command for Indonesia", which was held by the United Nusantara Movement, Jokowi's volunteers, at the Bung Karno Main Stadium, Jakarta, Saturday (26/11/2022).

Most recently, these supporters came together at the "United Nusantara: One Command for Indonesia" gather in Jakarta on Saturday (26/11/2022), which was attended by President Jokowi.

This was not the first gathering of supporters Jokowi has attended. At the end of May, Jokowi attended the Pro-Jokowi National Working Meeting (Projo) in Magelang, Central Java. And at the end of August, the President spoke at the People's Conference in Bandung, West Java.

The presence of informal supporters is nothing new in national politics. Before the 2014 presidential election and the 2012 Jakarta regional election, supporters were actively present at a number of regional elections to reinforce and buoy their party's winning machine. Their existence is also supported by the fact that not all supporters of candidates in regional elections or the general elections are political party members.

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As a political force, these supporters do not participate entirely without compensation for their efforts. This can be seen in part from Jokowi supporters who have become commissioners at state-owned enterprises.

Like other political forces, such as party elites and presidential candidates, it is an important time for supporters to prepare for the 2024 elections also. Now is the time to make calculations and invest politically. The right steps during this period will be to prevent "missing the train" when the candidate they support, for example, gains backing from a party or an alliance of parties to compete in the 2024 election. It will also make it easier for supporters to make political, economic or social gains if the candidate they are backing eventually goes on to win the election.

KOMPAS/CYPRIANUS ANTO SAPTOWALYONO

President Joko Widodo at the event "United Nusantara: One Command for Indonesia", at the Bung Karno Main Stadium, Jakarta, Saturday (26/11/2022).

Part of this effort involves political maneuvers, such as holding gatherings with party elites or politicians, mass mobilizations such as meetings of supporters or party cadres, party elites making multiple visits or disseminating information to the regions, and debates in various media.

Because these activities are not formal election stages, there are no clear rules in the Election Law that regulate them, so it is also difficult for these activities to violate any formal election rules.

However, politics should also be guided by ethics. So, it is natural that questions has arisen about the appropriateness of these various political maneuvers, for example, that they are being held as the people of Cianjur, West Java, continue to suffer from last Monday’s devastating earthquake, or ahead of the economic challenges expected in 2023.

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The President has reiterated several times about the importance of maintaining a harmonious atmosphere, because the political year is occurring amid geopolitical tensions and global economic uncertainties.

The greatest responsibility for realizing the President's expectations lays with the political elite, both within and outside their parties, including supporters. Their actions will show to the extent to which they are holding to and realizing their commitments.

Max Weber once stated that the dignity of a political leader or statesman lies in taking personal responsibility for what they do.

This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.