Surya Paloh is considered a key figure in attracting the opposition

The meeting with Nasdem Chairman Surya Paloh was seen as part of the political accommodation prepared by President Jokowi.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in Surya Paloh Dinilai sebagai Tokoh Kunci Gaet Gerbong Oposisi

KOMPAS

President Joko Widodo had a face-to-face meeting with the General Chairman of the Nasdem Party, Surya Paloh, at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Sunday (18/2/2024) evening. This closed meeting is believed to have discussed the composition of the cabinet following the 2024 elections.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The influence of the General Chair of the Nasdem Party Surya Paloh is considered to be the key to inviting the Change Coalition to join the Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka government in the future. This is suspected to be a main consideration for President Joko Widodo to meet Surya a few days after 2024 Election before meeting other political party elites.

However, the effort to combine the strengths of political competitors after the 2024 Presidential Election is expected to be difficult. This is because not only do the coalitions supporting the pairs Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar and Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD have relatively strong voting power, but they are also likely to receive support from civil society to continue the pro-democracy movement.

Director of Algoritma Research and Consulting, Aditya Perdana, when contacted from Jakarta on Monday (19/2/2024), stated that President Joko Widodo's meeting with the Chairman of the Nasdem Party, Surya Paloh, at the Presidential Palace on Sunday evening (18/2/2024), cannot be separated from the context of the 2024 Presidential Election.

After the results quick count of various institutions showed victory for candidate pair number 2, Prabowo-Gibran, there was a tendency for Jokowi to play a role in accommodating the elite politics from all camps to include them in the future government coalition.

Also read: Jokowi-Paloh Meet One-on-one, Allegedly Discuss Support for Prabowo-Gibran Cabinet

ARSIP PRIBADI

Aditya Perdana

Despite his term ending in October, the role is considered one that can only be performed by Jokowi. Jokowi's track record and influence in accommodating the interests of the post-election elite are still strongly felt.

"Jokowi is a figure who can embrace all elite groups. That is a superiority that other politicians, including Prabowo, do not possess," said Aditya.

In that context, according to him, Surya has an important position which is why he was the first person met by Jokowi. The Chairman of the Nasdem party can not only bring his party into the government coalition for 2024-2029, but also communicate with other political parties (parpol) to the same carriage.

Currently, Nasdem is part of the Coalition for Change, along with the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), which supports the presidential-vice presidential candidate number 1, Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar.

Also read: After Meeting Paloh, President Jokowi: I Want to Be a "Bridge"

KOMPAS/HAS/RON

, tiga tokoh nasional yang memiliki pengaruh besar dalam dunia politik Indonesia. Ganjar Pranowo adalah gubernur Jawa Tengah yang populer dan dianggap sebagai calon kuat untuk pemilihan presiden berikutnya. Prabowo Subianto adalah mantan jenderal TNI dan pemimpin Partai Gerindra yang dianggap sebagai rival politik dari Presiden Jokowi. Sementara itu, Anies Baswedan adalah gubernur DKI Jakarta yang dianggap sebagai pengembang potensial dalam dunia politik Indonesia. Tiga tokoh ini seringkali menjadi berita utama dalam pemberitaan politik Indonesia.

The position of the Coalition for Change is considered more crucial to be embraced earlier than the camp supporting the candidate pair number 3, Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD. This is because since the formation of the coalition before the registration of presidential and vice presidential candidates, rumors have circulated about efforts to obstruct the coalition.

"It's reasonable for Jokowi to embrace 01 first, because they have been more vocal in criticizing the government and 02 camp," said Aditya.

The term "embracing" is seen in connection with efforts to facilitate the results of the 2024 Elections. Moreover, Jokowi stated that he wants to be a bridge for all parties involved in the 2024 Presidential Election. "When Jokowi talks about a bridge, it means that political accommodation has been prepared," said Aditya.

However, according to him, the step to invite the 01 camp to enter the government coalition is not an easy task. Apart from political party issues, this coalition is also strongly influenced by the figure of Anies Baswedan who has been consistent with the discourse of change. The issue of neutrality of the apparatus to ensure that the election runs honestly and fairly, which is often raised, also receives support from pro-democracy groups, ranging from academics to civil society.

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA (BAH)

Potential presidential candidate Anies Baswedan shook hands with potential vice presidential candidate Muhaimin Iskandar after delivering a speech at the Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidate Declaration for the 2024 Change Coalition for Unity at Hotel Majapahit, Surabaya, on Saturday (2/9/2023).

However, it is not easy to ensure that all political parties which are members of the Coalition for Change become the opposition. "On the other hand, it may be difficult for Nasdem and PKB to become the opposition because these two parties have never been outside of the government. Only PPP, which is relatively unobstructed, can become the opposition. Therefore, its position will be difficult," said Aditya.

He added that based on the quick count results, the acquisition of votes for political parties in the 2024 election is relatively close. If Jokowi is able to win over Nasdem and PKB, it will be easier to create a dominant government coalition.

Also read: Prabowo's Political Safari is Seen as an Effort to Consolidate Facing the Opposition

After officially inaugurating the National Defense Central Hospital (RSPPN) in Jakarta on Monday morning, Jokowi revealed that the meeting with Surya was a routine political meeting. During the meeting, they discussed common political issues.

However, the President did not respond when asked if he invited Surya or if Surya requested a meeting with him. This is because Nasdem elites have asserted that it was the President who invited Surya to come to the Palace.

KOMPAS/NINA SUSILO

President Joko Widodo, accompanied by Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, inaugurated the National Defense Center Hospital in Jakarta on Monday (19/2/2024).

Jokowi only mentioned himself as a connector, although he did not provide details on who he was connecting.

"If it's final, we'll handle it... But, actually, I'm just a bridge. What's important are the political parties. The parties." said Jokowi.

When asked if the bridge in question connects Nasdem and Prabowo, Jokowi gave a brief response. "Yes, all of them. I want to be a bridge for everyone. Political matters are the affairs of the parties," Jokowi said.

Previously, Jokowi and Surya had a one-on-one meeting at the Presidential Palace on Sunday evening. The two met for around one hour. Since 2019, Nasdem has been part of the governing coalition of Joko Widodo-Ma'ruf Amin. However, the relationship between Jokowi and Surya is rumored to have soured because Nasdem has chosen to support Anies-Muhaimin.

Although the President has never officially declared his preference in the 2024 Presidential Election, some parties see that Jokowi's actions indicate his support for the number 2 candidate pair. Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is Prabowo's running mate, is Jokowi's eldest son.

Gibran may become a vice presidential candidate after the controversial Constitutional Court (MK) ruling regarding the age limit for presidential and vice presidential candidates. At that time, MK was led by Anwar Usman, who is none other than Jokowi's brother-in-law or Gibran's uncle.