Yenny Wahid Enters the Vice Presidential Candidate Exchange, PKS: A Sign of Better Democracy

"The emergence of female candidates also shows an indication of improving democracy," said PKS DPP chairman Mardani Ali Sera.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI.

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

Yenny Wahid

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The appearance of Zannuba Ariffah Chafsoh or Yenny Wahid in the vice presidential candidate exchange was welcomed by a number of groups, including political partiespolitical parties a> Participating in the 2024 election. Apart from being a symbol of gender equality, the inclusion of female figures shows that the practice of democracy in Indonesia is getting better.

One of the positive responses was conveyed by Chairman of the Central Executive Board of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), Mardani Ali Sera. Currently, there are indeed many women involved in politics and governance in this country. However, the emergence of Yenny Wahid in the presidential election (pilpres) remains good news.

"The emergence of female candidates also indicates an improvement in democracy," said Mardani.

Previously, Yenny Wahid admitted that he had communicated with a number of parties, including political parties, who asked him to become the vice presidential candidate (cawapres). Communication is not only established with parties associated with the presidential candidate (candidate) from the Coalition for Change for Unity (KPP), Anies Rasyid Baswedan, but also the presidential candidate from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle coalition (PDI-P) which is also supported by the United Development Party (PPP), Perindo Party, and Hanura Party, Ganjar Pranowo, and the prospective presidential candidate from the Gerindra Party, Prabowo Subianto.

The emergence of female candidates also shows an indication of improving democracy.

Yenny admitted to having good relationships with the three potential presidential candidates. Yenny's husband, Dhohir Farisi, was a member of the Gerindra Party led by Prabowo. Her husband is also an alumnus of Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, like Ganjar. Therefore, she and her family have the same circle of friends as Ganjar. As for Anies, the closeness happened directly. Both of them have worked together at Paramadina University, Jakarta.

Yenny's statement reinforces the speculation that has been circulating that the daughter of the 4th Indonesian President, Abdurrahman Wahid or Gus Dur, will run alongside Anies in the 2024 Presidential Election. Anies is the potential candidate for the Coalition of the People's Conscience (KPP) that consists of the Nasdem Party, Democrat Party, and PKS.

"For PKS, according to Mardani, Yenny is a figure who inherits the wisdom of Gus Dur. Yenny's joining KPP will certainly be welcomed with joy. However, the decision of KPP's vice presidential candidate is in Anies's hands."

Also read: Trafficking of Anies Baswedan's Vice Presidential Candidate is Seen Again

FRAKSI PKS DPR

Member of Commission II of the DPR from the Justice and Prosperity Party Fraction, Mardani Ali Sera

"Praise be to Allah, I am happy to hear it (Yenny joining KPP). However, if she is to be considered as a potential vice presidential candidate, everything depends on consultation and Mas Anies to make a decision," said Mardani.

Just fine

Despite having closeness with Prabowo, Yenny previously stated that she would find it difficult to support Prabowo in the upcoming presidential election if the Defense Minister chooses Muhaimin Iskandar as his running mate. Not only that, Prabowo is also confirmed to not receive support from the family of Gus Dur or the Gusdurian community, who are admirers of Gus Dur's thoughts.

In the 2009 elections, the Gus Dur family and Gusdurians were directed to support Prabowo. As a result, Gerindra received a transfer of votes and the National Awakening Party (PKB) led by Muhaimin lost 70 percent of its votes. According to Yenny, the PKB that supported Gus Dur was different from the one led by Muhaimin, from its style, political character, to its values ​​of struggle.

Responding to the statement, Secretary General of the Gerindra Party, Ahmad Muzani, affirmed that his party's relationship with Yenny is still good. He hopes that everything will continue to run smoothly.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

Chairman of the Gerindra Party, Prabowo Subianto, welcomed the arrival of the Chairman of the Partai Kebangkitan Bangsa, Muhaimin Iskandar, at his residence on Jalan Kertanegara IV, Jakarta, on Friday (28/4/2023).

On the other hand, Muhaimin did not want to respond to Yenny's statement that he thought it would be difficult for him to become a vice presidential candidate because he had betrayed Gus Dur as his political teacher. "Wis (already), no need to discuss it, it's all old stuff (all old)," he said, as quoted by Kompas.com (12/8/2023).

Meanwhile, the Spokesperson of PPP, Achmad Baidowi, stated that PPP will remain firm with the result of the National Leadership Meeting. The result recommends Sandiaga Uno, the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, as the potential vice presidential candidate for Ganjar Pranowo.

"Next, we just have to see the response of other political parties that cooperate with PDI-P, namely Perindo Party and Hanura Party," he said.

Read also: When Yenny Wahid uploaded his old photo with AHY

Separately, researcher from the Political Research Center of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Wasisto Raharjo Jati, stated that the inclusion of women in the vice presidential candidate list is an effort by political parties and candidates to embrace potential women voters. The decision to nominate a female candidate with a strong political background may also be a symbolic effort to demonstrate support for gender equality.

ARSIP PRIBADI

Wasisto Raharjo Jati

According to Wasisto, Yenny's figure is very appropriate to meet the criteria because it reflects gender equality and a strong political background. However, this phenomenon was driven more by pragmatic rather than idealistic reasons to voice women's voices.

"If seen in percentage, the potential of a female vice presidential candidate has not yet strengthened. It is only at the level of pragmatic discourse for electability needs," said Wasisto.

However, according to Wasisto, the emergence of female vice-presidential candidates still shows hope for a more inclusive democracy. This will be seen during the registration of candidate names for the presidential election at the General Elections Commission.