PKB Prepares Coalition Axis Against Ridwan Kamil in West Java Regional Election

PKB needs an additional nine DPRD seats to nominate opposing governor candidates Ridwan Kamil.

KOMPAS/HIDAYAT SALAM

The Chairman of the National Awakening Party, Muhaimin Iskandar, participated in the Political Introduction event of Gus Muhamin organized by the National Awakening Party, which was attended by prospective candidates for regional heads for the regions of West Java, DKI Jakarta, and Banten at the Grand Sahid Jaya Hotel in Jakarta on Thursday (2/5/2024).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The National Awakening Party or PKB is preparing a coalition axis to fight Ridwan Kamil, the incumbent candidate in the 2024 West Java Governor Election. PKB, which will encourage internal cadres, requires an additional nine DPRD seats to be able to nominate candidates for governor and deputy governor of West Java.

Following the attendance of the Political Ta'aruf of Gus Muhaimin organized by the National Awakening Party, which was attended by potential regional head candidates for the West Java, DKI Jakarta, and Banten regions in Jakarta on Thursday (2/5/2024), the Chairman of the National Awakening Party, Muhaimin Iskandar, stated that his party is pushing its internal cadres to face the West Java Regional Elections. Nonetheless, the National Awakening Party is still open to applications from external figures who wish to compete in the West Java Governor Election.

"West Java has not yet had any applicants. However, internally, Mr. Huda (Deputy Secretary General of the National Awakening Party, Syaiful Huda) and Mr. Cucun (Chairman of the Central Executive Board of the National Awakening Party, Cucun Ahmad Syamsurijal) are encouraged to run," said Muhaimin.

According to Muhaimin, the National Awakening Party (PKB) continues to recruit potential figures, both from internal cadres and non-cadres, to be supported in the 2024 simultaneous regional head elections. Prospective regional head candidates are expected to have the capacity and capability, vision, and electability.

MIS FRANSISKA DEWI

The head of the National Awakening Party (PKB), Muhaimin Iskandar, was photographed with PKB cadres after delivering a speech at the opening of the Coordination Meeting for the Southern Sumatra Winning Zone on Monday (22/5/2023) night, in Jakarta.

The reason is that a candidate's figure becomes a force in the regional elections and will determine the coalition map of parties to win the 2024 Regional Elections. The PKB is also open to forming coalitions with any party to face the 2024 Regional Elections.

Also read: Competing for Internal Party Seats, PKB Legislative Candidates Ask for Total Party Votes to Be Reduced

Vice Secretary General of PKB, Syaiful Huda, added that PKB Jabar has confirmed to create a coalition axis to confront Ridwan Kamil. PKB only holds 15 seats in the Jabar DPRD, so PKB needs an additional nine seats to be able to support the governor and deputy governor candidates in Jabar.

"Basically, God willing, there has been an agreement that PKB will nominate a gubernatorial candidate. We will hand over the deputy governor position to the coalition party that will ensure joining with PKB. Because we only need one additional coalition party," said Huda, who is also the Chairman of DPW Jabar.

Golkar nominates Ridwan Kamil

Separately, Deputy General Chair of the Golkar Party, Ahmad Doli Kurnia, said that even though he had planned to nominate Ridwan Kamil in the DKI Jakarta Pilkada, his party still encouraged the former Governor of West Java to run again in Golkar. a href="URL_PLACEHOLDER">West Java Regional Election. Apart from being considered successful when he was Mayor of Bandung and Governor of West Java, local residents are also said to still want Kamil to lead the province.

West Java PKB has confirmed that it will create a coalition axis to face Ridwan Kamil.

"Because the community is hoping for it, we will certainly find it easier to win Ridwan Kamil in West Java compared to in DKI Jakarta, where we don't yet know the playing field," said Doli.

She continued, even though Ridwan Kamil is a popular figure who is also in the running for vice presidential candidate for the 2024 presidential election as voted by the people, his victory is not certain if he participates in the Jakarta gubernatorial election. Every political party has not yet opened up about the candidate they will support. In the midst of this context, there is also a discourse that the 2024 presidential candidate and former Jakarta Governor, Anies Baswedan, will again compete in the Jakarta gubernatorial election.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party has not yet determined its stance for the West Java Regional Elections even though the supported candidate, Ridwan Kamil, is the only strong candidate. In other regions, the Democratic Party is still monitoring the movement of inter-party lobbying.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Chairman of the Golkar Party Airlangga Hartarto (left) along with West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil (right) held a press conference at the Golkar Party's headquarters in Slipi, Jakarta on Wednesday (18/1/2023).

The Head of the Strategic Communications Agency of the Central Executive Board of the Democratic Party, Herzaky Mahendra Putra, stated that they are currently collecting various opinions from the lowest level party executives. Within a week, they will present their findings to the central management.

"Democrat is ready for the regional elections. We have opened the registration and in the coming weeks they will present alternately," he said.

The formation of coalitions in each region will adjust to the views of the respective party officials. Although the presidential election coalition is a priority, it is not impossible that there will be differences as each region has its own map.

In addition, excellent members of the Democratic Party will definitely be supported and form their own coalition even if they will compete with other presidential coalition parties later. "For example, if the Democrats have members, Golkar does, Gerindra does, of course, there is a possibility that they will compete against each other, right?" he said.

DOKUMENTASI PRIBADI HERZAKY DARI TWITTER

Head of the Democratic Party's DPP Strategic Communications Agency Herzaky Mahendra Putra

A spokesperson for the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), Ahmad Mabruri, said that PKS is still in the process of selecting potential candidates for regional head elections (Pilkada). PKS has not yet determined the figure who will run in the West Java Pilkada.

Previously, PKS President Ahmad Syaikhu explained that in facing the 2024 regional elections, the coalition map between political parties will be different from the 2024 presidential election. PKS will build a coalition with various political parties to win the 2024 regional elections.

Also read: Winning against Prabowo in East Java, Khofifah is promoted as a candidate for governor by KIM

"Currently, the regional leadership council is selecting prospective candidates and will later submit them to the DPP. "From there, the DPP will then carry out a study, which one has a big probability of winning, the chance of winning is big," said Syaikhu, Tuesday (30/4/2024) .