Jokowi And Ganjar's Familiarity In Central Java Is Proof That There Are No Rails

Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo when picking up President Jokowi at Adi Sumarmo Airport, Saturday 8 April (Istmewa)

JAKARTA - Political Observer of SMRC Saidiman Ahmad, highlighted the moment of intimacy between President Joko Widodo and the Governor of Central Java (Central Java) Ganjar Pranowo on a working visit in Central Java in the last few days.

Because the relationship between the two was rumored to be tenuous because of different attitudes related to Israel's rejection which led to the cancellation of Indonesia as the host of the U-20 World Cup. According to Saidiman, Jokowi's closeness with Ganjar proved that there was no rift between the two figures. As for Ganjar's attitude against Israel, he said, it was the attitude of his party, namely PDIP even though Jokowi was also a cadre. Moreover, the rejection is also related to the potential security.

"I don't see any confusion with Ganjar. So, I may not agree that there is a difference between Pak Jokowi and other cadres. I believe they have calculated negative and positive impacts from the presence of Israel," Saidiman said, Tuesday, April 11.

On the other hand, Saidiman considered that this familiarity seemed to place Ganjar as the most potential figure to continue Jokowi's leadership. Ganjar is considered the most worthy of continuing Jokowi's big program, such as building the new state capital, the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train, to realizing Indonesia gold in 2045.

In addition, in the results of the latest survey by the Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI), 39.3 percent of Jokowi's voters in the 2019 Presidential Election chose Ganjar. For this reason, Saidiman does not see a figure outside Ganjar who is more perfect in representing Jokowi's political group. "In addition to being formally a PDIP cadre who is the same as Jokowi. Second, if we look at Jokowi's character as Ganjar, they both come from successful regional heads in Central Java. According to the public in Central Java, Pak Ganjar is considered a successful governor, he has the same character as Jokowi," he explained.

Saidiman also believes that Jokowi will still place Ganjar in the first rank of person he supports in the 2024 presidential election. Even though at the same time, Jokowi also communicated with figures such as Prabowo Subianto and the general chairman of other political parties. According to him, it is only an effort to keep the coalition solid.

"If we look at the potential and trusted figures who continue Pak Jokowi's leadership, I see that Ganjar is still the figure, not the others. Even though he looks endorsed as well as Pak Prabowo, mentions Airlangga and other names, but I still see that the cadres who approach Jokowi the most are Ganjar," said Saidiman.