Increasing Dynamics: Political Parties Persuade Each Other
Political parties are trying to convince each other that the figure they are supporting will have a wider path to winning the 2024 presidential election.
By
NINO CITRA ANUGRAHANTO, NIKOLAUS HARBOWO, REGINA RUKMORINI
·5 minutes read
ISTANA KEPRESIDENAN/AGUS SUPARTO
From left, PDIP DPP Chair Puan Maharani, President Joko Widodo, PDIP General Chair Megawati Soekarno Putri, PDIP Presidential Candidate Ganjar Pranowo, PDIP DPP Chair Prananda Prabowo pose for a group photo after the announcement of the PDIP presidential candidate at the Batutulis Palace, Bogor City, West Java, Friday ( 21/4/2023).
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — It is believed that national politics will grow more dynamic following the decision of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) to nominate Ganjar Pranowo as its presidential candidate. Political parties are trying to convince each other that the figure they are supporting will have a wider path to winning the 2024 presidential election. This makes for an even greater potential for changes in the electoral alliances that have been formed.
PDI-P secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto said on Monday (24/4/2023), after PDI-P general chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri announced it was backing Ganjar, that the party had communicated with other parties to also support Ganjar in the 2024 presidential election. "Just wait, in the [next few] weeks there will be declarations from other political parties supporting the PDI-P’s presidential candidate," he said.
On Saturday (22/4), Hanura, a party with no seats in the House of Representatives (DPR), said it would back Ganjar. Earlier, the PDI-P, Hanura and the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), another political party that has no DPR seats, announced their support for Ganjar’s presidential bid.
Communication with other political parties would continue to increase support for Ganjar, Hasto said.
The Golkar Party, the National Mandate Party (PAN), and the United Development Party (PPP) grouped in the United Indonesia Coalition (KIB) will be meeting to discuss and decide on the presidential and vice presidential candidates it will be supporting, according to Golkar Party spokesperson Tantowi Yahya. However, he also admitted that he did not know when the meeting would be held.
During that meeting, Golkar will continue to try to convince other members of the KIB to nominate its general chairman, Airlangga Hartarto, for 2024. This is in line with the decision of the 2019 Golkar National Conference (Munas).
Meeting over ‘grand coalition’
PAN Central Executive Board (DPP) chairman Bima Arya Sugiarto confirmed the planned meeting of KIB members. He also disclosed that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo planned to meet again with the general chairmen of five political parties. Apart from the leaders the three political parties in the KIB, the two other parties were the Gerindra Party and the National Awakening Party, currently grouped in the Great Indonesia Awakening Coalition (KKIR).
"I heard that in the near future there will be talks between Pak [Mr.] Jokowi and the party chairmen who are part of the ‘grand coalition’," said Bima.
Jokowi once met the general chairmen of these five political parties at the PAN DPP office in early April. Following the meeting, the idea was rolled out to form a “grand coalition” by combining the KIB and the KKIR.
DOKUMENTASI HUMAS PAN
(From left) General Chair of the PKB Muhaimin Iskandar, General Chair of the Gerindra Party Prabowo Subianto, President Joko Widodo, General Chair of the Golkar Party Airlangga Hartarto, General Chair of PAN Zulkifli Hasan, and Acting General Chair of PPP Mardiono attending the Ramadhan Gathering at the PAN DPP Office, Jakarta, Sunday (2/4/2023).
Bima disclosed that a number of variables would determine the direction of the alliance after Ganjar’s nomination. The first variable was the KIB’s decision. “Is it possible that the KIB will go [to the PDI-P] or not? I see it is still very dynamic," he said.
Moreover, on Sunday (23/4), Golkar chairman Airlangga met Gerindra general chairman Prabowo Subianto. Part of the meeting was allegedly to assess the existing alliances.
However, Bima added that PAN would try to convince the KIB of the similarities between the PDI-P’s presidential candidate and the potential candidates for the national leadership that were recommended at the 2022 PAN National Work Meeting. The figure in question is Ganjar.
Another variable was Jokowi's considerations during a meeting with the general chairmen of five political parties. Also important was communication with the PDI-P, including discussing the matter of Ganjar’s running mate.
Meanwhile, PPP acting general chair Muhamad Mardiono said the PPP would soon announce the presidential candidate it was backing. He expected the announcement to be made this month.
As for the candidate to receive the PPP’s backing, Mardiono fully entrusted the decision to the party’s voice and dynamics. However, he acknowledged that support for Ganjar had grown. "Internally, some have declared support for Ganjar. There are also those who have sent letters to the PPP DPP, urging them to immediately declare their stance to support Ganjar as a presidential candidate," he explained.
Prabowo is the presidential candidate of the Gerindra Party. A presidential candidate, not a vice presidential candidate.
After deciding on the presidential candidate, the PPP would discuss it with the KIB. “If it turns out that the three parties have decided to support the same name as the presidential candidate, well, thank God. However, if there are different decisions, there will be more discussions later," he said.
Gerindra secretary-general Ahmad Muzani said it was also maintaining open communication with other political parties to convince them to support Prabowo Subianto for the presidency. He believed that the number of political parties joining the KKIR would increase.
“Prabowo is the presidential candidate of the Gerindra Party. A presidential candidate, not a vice presidential candidate," he underlined. As for Prabowo’s running mate, he said this figure would be the leader of one of the political parties that would join the KKIR later. (BOW/EGI/NCA)
