Allegedly Disappointed After Canceling World Cup Hosts, PAN Predicts Jokowi's Support To Ganjar Shifted

President Joko Widodo and Governor of Central Java Ganjar Pranowo. (Photo: Instagram/@ganjar_pranowo)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Expert Council of the National Mandate Party (PAN), Dradjad Wibowo, believes that President Joko Widodo is disappointed that Indonesia has canceled its host to the U-20 World Cup which was allegedly the aftermath of opposition from a number of parties to the arrival of the Israeli national team. Moreover, the refusal also came from a party colleague who is also close to him, the Governor of Central Java, Ganjar Pranowo. "I said this because I suspected that President Jokowi was quite disappointed with the cancellation. We know that Friday, March 24, the President received Palestinian Ambassador Zuhair Al Shun at the Merdeka Palace, then on Tuesday, March 28, the President conveyed his approval with the attitude of the Palestinian Ambassador that FIFA has rules that its members must obey and so on," said Dradjad to reporters, Thursday, March 30. Although, according to Dradjad, Jokowi did not say directly, the series of events above shows how important Indonesian hostship is in the view of the president. "Don't forget, President Jokowi is Javanese, from one of the epicenters of Javanese culture, namely Solo, not everything must be said. But there is Javanese advice that reads iso rumongso, must be able to feel, be sensitive to the implied things, not spoken, let alone written," said Dradjad. Dradjad then assessed that the cancellation of Indonesia hosting the world football match would have an impact on the dynamics of the 2024 presidential election. This is because one of the presidential candidates who is said to have received his support is considered to have contributed to the cancellation. "So it is also very natural that the Governors of Central Java (Ganjar) and Bali are considered to have contributed to this disappointment," said Dradjad. "Will it have an impact on his attitude in his candidacy? As a large Javanese in Javanese culture, even though the coast is native to Surabaya, the answer is yes. Hopefully I'm wrong," he added. Previously, Ganjar Pranowo stated that he refused the Israeli national team to come to Indonesia. If necessary, said Ganjar, there is an effort so that the U-20 World Cup can run successfully without the presence of the Israeli national team. "In the context (World Cup) U-20 we encourage the efforts that must be made by the government. In this case, it breaks through so that U-20 remains successful but does not present Israel," said Ganjar in a written statement, Thursday, March 23. Ganjar supports the PDIP's attitude in rejecting the presence of the Israeli national team at the U-20 World Cup in Indonesia. He asked the committee and related parties to seek breakthrough steps so that the U-20 World Cup could run without sacrificing the commitment of the nation's founders. "So that the U-20 World Cup can be held without sacrificing our long commitment to realizing Palestine's independence. As well as maintaining social-political peace within Indonesia," he said. Ganjar also reasoned that his rejection of the presence of the Israeli national team was none other than for upholding Bung Karno's mandate regarding Palestinian independence. This then made the number one person in Central Java voice his rejection of the Israeli national team. "We already know how Bung Karno's commitment to Palestine, both voiced at the Asia Africa Conference, Non-Aligned Movement, and at the Conference of the New Emerging Forces. So yes, we follow his mandate," said Ganjar. Ganjar also admitted to observing the emergence of political groups in the Israeli government who refused to recognize the existence of an independent Palestinian nation and state. "Therefore, it is important for us to continue to voice our support for the Palestinian struggle for independence," he said.