Homework That Must be Completed by Duet Prabowo Subianto - Gibran Rakabuming Raka

JAKARTA – The figure of Gibran Rakabuming Raka is said to be helping Prabowo Subianto win the 2024 Presidential Election (Pilpres). But on the one hand, they have big homework, namely eliminating accusations of dynastic politics that Jokowi is building.

Prabowo's desire to propose to Gibran finally came true after receiving the green light from the Constitutional Court (MK) decision regarding the lawsuit regarding the age limit for presidential and vice presidential candidates.

President Joko Widodo's eldest son was allowed to contest the 2024 presidential election after the Constitutional Court granted the lawsuit filed by Almas Tsaqibirru ReA.

Case Number 90/PUU-XXI/2023 which was filed by Almas asked the Constitutional Court to change the requirements for nominating presidential and vice presidential candidates to be at least 40 years old or have experience as a regional head, both at the provincial and district/city levels.

Dynasty Political Issues Will Be Capitalized

It is said that the issue of dynastic politics could become a burden for the Prabowo-Gibran presidential candidate pair when they fight in the presidential election. This was said by the Executive Director of the Indonesian Public Institute (IPI) Karyono Wibowo.

Karyono predicts that this dynastic political issue could more or less influence Prabowo-Gibran's electability.

“Previously, the issue of dynastic politics was widely discussed in the public sphere, on social media, everywhere. "And this issue became stronger after the MK's decision, where the MK was accused of providing the red carpet for Gibran," Karyono told VOI.

“The political discourse of the dynasty leads to Jokowi's image. "This issue will be capitalized so that it can become a burden for Prabowo-Gibran in the presidential election contestation," Karyono added.

Meanwhile, a slightly different view was expressed by political observer from Al Azhar University Indonesia, Andriadi Achmad. He said there was a difference between dynastic politics and the democratic system adopted in Indonesia.

Quoting the Ministry of Home Affairs website, democracy is people's government or a form or system of government in which all the people participate in governing through their representatives.

Indonesia began implementing direct elections in 2004, where voters can directly elect the president and vice president of their choice. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Jusuf Kalla became the first president and vice president of Indonesia to be directly elected by the people through elections.

Since then, presidential elections have always been held directly every five years.

Meanwhile, before the 2004 presidential election, the president was elected indirectly, namely through consensus deliberation by members of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR). The MPR has the authority to vote because it is the highest state institution whose members consist of all members of the People's Representative Council (DPR).

"Dynastic politics is identical to the context of the kingdom, with heredity, so that those who become kings or leaders are their own descendants, directly without any election. "Meanwhile in democracy there is no dynastic politics," said Andriadi to VOI.

“In a democracy, the most powerful are the people, the people's voice is the most decisive. "The most important instrument in democracy is elections, because from here the leadership relay is created and this is all chosen by the people," explained Andriadi at length.

However, Andriadi did not deny that Gibran's election as Prabowo's vice presidential candidate was due to Jokowi becoming president when the presidential election took place next year. He believes that Gibran's presence will make Jokowi's supporters channel their support for the pair from the Advanced Indonesia Coalition.

“Gibran is synonymous with Jokowi. Prabowo wants Jokowi's effect, wants Jokowi's influence because during the presidential election he will still be president and has the power to control," Andriadi added.

Gibran's Ability Is Doubted

Even though it continues to be shaken by the issue of dynastic politics, Prabowo-Gibran's electability is still high.

The Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI) said that the Prabowo-Gibran duet was still higher than the other two pairs, Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD and Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar.

Even after the Constitutional Court's decision, the simulation carried out by LSI recorded that the Prabowo-Gibran pair was superior with an electability of 35.9 percent. Meanwhile, Ganjar-Mahfud has an electability of 26.1 percent and Anies-Cak Imin with 19.6 percent.

However, Prabowo-Gibran has big homework in the upcoming presidential election. Apart from reducing the issue of dynastic politics, this duo also had to answer public doubts about Gibran's ability to lead.

As is known, Gibran does not have much experience in the political arena. He even only became a PDIP Party cadre as of 2019 after first entering the business world.

Gibran Rakabuming Raka was then elected as Mayor of Surakarta in 2020. This means that up to now the 36 year old man has only had security for less than three years leading Surakarta.

"Apart from public perception regarding dynastic politics, the public's doubts about Gibran must also be addressed," Karyono explained.

"The public doubts Gibran's maturity, experience and ability to lead Indonesia. Because the one who will be led is Indonesia, from Sabang to Merauke with 275 residents.

"Gibran's experience in Solo is considered not enough to lead Indonesia. "These two things, political dynasty and experience, are becoming a public conversation now," added Karyono