KIB Registers Together With KPU, BRIN Political Expert: Relatively Solid, Looks Like We Can Agree On Airlangga's Presidential Candidate

JAKARTA - The Golkar Party, PAN, PPP who are members of the United Indonesia Coalition (KIB) jointly registered with the General Elections Commission (KPU) today, Wednesday 10 August.

Political expert from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) Siti Zuhro, assessed that the arrival of the three KIB member parties to the KPU together was a sign of the solidarity of the party chaired by Airlangga Hartarto, Zulkifli Hasan and Suharso Monoarfa. "I read that they are relatively solid, still relatively close together," said Siti Zuhro in Jakarta, Wednesday, August 10.

However, this solidity will only be tested when the registration period for presidential candidates (candidates) and vice presidential candidates (cawapres) arrives. Even so, said Siti Zuhro, KIB can face the test by entering into an agreement internally with KIB. It is known, so far, among KIB members, Golkar is the party that has openly proposed Airlangga Hartarto as a presidential candidate.

"I think it could be agreed that the presidential candidate from him, the three agreed, one of the cadres means Airlangga Hartarto. Only to boost is taken from outside. That's an agreement that can't be done without spices, relating to funding problems and so on," he said.

According to Siti Zuhro, there are several parties that have the possibility of joining KIB, namely the NasDem Party, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), and the Democratic Party. This will happen if they fail to form a coalition for the 2024 presidential election.

"Those who haven't declared are three parties, NasDem, PKS, Democrat. PDI-P is alone, solo. So I think maybe it is, we don't know the front face and the back face. Maybe the three NasDem and Democrats and PKS already have a deal like that, it just hasn't been reduced. Even if it doesn't happen, the commitment doesn't meet, even if they move, they will go to KIB," he said.

Zuhro said that the relations between the parties had been relatively non-existent from the start. In addition, the merger of political parties is also supported by ideological similarities. Some of these parties also have the same parent as Golkar, NasDem, and Democrats. Although PKS is somewhat different, said Zuhro, PKS has been recorded as having a coalition with Democrats and Golkar.

"Actually, NasDem and Golkar are one parent, Democrats too. What is not with PKS, but PKS has long been in coalition with Democrats and Golkar in the era of Pak SBY," he explained.

On the other hand, Zuhro believes that the public needs to encourage three or more presidential and vice presidential candidates. This is useful to avoid polarization like during the 2019 Presidential Election. "Later, there will be divisions again, disharmony again, then justify all means again. We are corrupt. So we must encourage not only two pairs of candidates, do not group together, more than three pairs of candidates it's okay. Let it spin first. Because we are not used to head to head, it's very hard," said Siti Zuhro.

Previously, the General Chair of the Golkar Party, Airlangga Hartarto, revealed that the United Indonesia Coalition (KIB) has the same spirit in the 2024 General Election.

"We have the same enthusiasm to welcome the democratic party which will be held in the 2024 Pilleg and Presidential Election. This is the 13th general election held in Indonesia," said Airlangga Hartarto at the KPU, Wednesday, August 10.

KIB, said Airlangga, also pushed for elections that were held in a fair, democratic manner and did not use primordial issues that would ultimately only divide the nation.

"We have an interest in maintaining political stability. Because with political stability, development can continue. Therefore, elections must be held according to the schedule, namely in February 2024," he said.