The Constitutional Court's Decision Becomes A Red Carpet For Gibran, But Damages Jokowi's Image

PDIP chairman Megawati Soekarnoputri walked with President Jokowi at the opening of the PDI-P National Working Meeting at JIExpo Kemayoran, Jakarta, Friday (29/9/2023). (Between/Akbar Nugroho Gumay/Spt/aa)

JAKARTA The image of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has become bad following the decision of the Constitutional Court (MK) which granted the judicial review lawsuit against Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning Elections related to the age limit for the Vice Presidential Candidate proposed by a UNS student named Almas Tsaqibbirru Re A inviting various reactions.

The presidential candidate (candidate) from the Gerindra Party Prabowo Subianto is considered one of the parties most benefited by the granting of Almas' lawsuit to the Constitutional Court. This is because the Constitutional Court's decision is considered a red carpet for Gibran Rakabuming Raka to be 'legally' elected as a vice presidential candidate (Cawapres) ahead of the registration of the presidential and vice presidential candidates to the General Election Commission (KPU) which will open on 19 October.

But on the other hand, Jokowi's name received negative sentiment after the reading of the verdict by the Constitutional Court which was held in Jakarta, Monday (16/10/2023). Many parties believe Jokowi's intervention in the Constitutional Court's decision.

The allegation that Jokowi used his power to build a political dynasty in the country is getting stronger, with Gibran's opportunity to run as a vice presidential candidate next year.

With Almas' lawsuit granted with case number 90 / PUU-XXI / 2023, the presidential and vice-presidential candidates must be at least 40 years old or have been / currently in positions elected through general elections including regional head elections.

Based on the Constitutional Court's decision, it means that Gibran has met the requirements to run in the 2024 presidential election which will be held on February 14, 2024. Currently, Jokowi's eldest son is currently serving as Mayor of Surakarta.

Gibran himself is intensively connected with the presidential candidate from the Gerindra Party, Prabowo Subianto. The closeness of the two is increasingly visible throughout this year. Finally, Gibran was also present at the sixth National Working Meeting of Pro Joko Widodo (Projo) volunteer organizations in Jakarta on Saturday (15/10/2023) before they left for Prabowo Subianto's residence.

Reflecting on the controversial Constitutional Court's decision, political observer from the Indonesian Public Institute (IPI) Karyono Wibowo said there were two figures who benefited the Constitutional Court's decision the most.

The one who benefits is the one who has an interest in running for the presidential election. This, as we already know, is Gibran, because he is said to want to run as a vice presidential candidate. In addition, the Prabowo camp also benefited because from the start it really wanted Gibran's betel nut, "said Karyono when contacted by VOI.

Similarly, the Director of the Voxpol Center Research & Consulting Pangi Syarwi Chaniago emphasized that this would be a breath of fresh air for Prabowo, who really wanted Gibran as his companion in next year's presidential election. Previously, it was possible that Gibran appeared as Prabowo's vice presidential candidate was hampered by regulations that the presidential and vice presidential candidates should be at least 40 years old.

Prabowo benefited the most from this decision, because thus he was able to propose to Gibran. This means that now it's just a'reception', said the man who is familiarly called Ipang.

However, the advancement of Gibran as Prabowo's Vice Presidential Candidate means that something must be sacrificed. In this case, Jokowi can be considered as one of the figures who has been harmed for the time being. This is because the image that has been built by the former Mayor of Solo for two periods was damaged due to the Constitutional Court's decision.

Jokowi will be considered a figure who uses power for the benefit of his family. Not only that, it is suspected that Jokowi wants to perpetuate the political dynasty in the country to strengthen.

The parties who were the most harmed were clearly PDIP, because their voices would be divided because Jokowi's loyalists most likely supported Prabowo-Gibran, Ipang.

On the other hand, the one who was also harmed was Jokowi himself. Jokowi's good name, dignity and dignity were destroyed. Not to mention the matter of the Constitutional Court which was made as Mahkaman Keluarga and the alleged practice of political dynasticism, Ipang added at length.

During the two leading periods, Jokowi is claimed to have succeeded in eliminating the image that development in Indonesia is only concentrated on the island of Java. According to Karyono, what Jokowi has built over the past 10 years has been tarnished by the Constitutional Court's decision which has sparked a series of wild issues in society.

These things are like this tarnishing Jokowi's image. Even though the public hopes that Jokowi will leave his position well, leaving the legislation well. This Constitutional Court decision makes the stigma negative at once, reducing Jokowi's image, which has been built for 10 years," Karyono explained.

Jokowi is building several regions. Javancentric is known, now evenly distributed throughout Indonesia. Indonesia has also managed to get through the pandemic and after the pandemic our economic growth is significant. Unfortunately at the end of his power he has the potential to get this bad image," said Karyono again.