Why Is There A 2024 Presidential Election Candidate Survey This Year?

JAKARTA - A number of survey agencies have released projections for the Presidential Election in 2024. For two consecutive days since Sunday, February 23 and Monday, February 24, three survey agencies predict a number of figures who are ready to shine in the upcoming presidential elections. This survey emerged during the reign of Joko Widodo-Ma'ruf Amin for the 2019-2024 period that had only been running for four months.

Executive Director of Indonesia Political Review, Ujang Komarudin, assessed that a survey like this is valid as long as it is carried out objectively and is not paid by certain parties. For him, the earlier a survey of candidates who have a chance to run in the election, the better.

Another positive side, he continued, is that the public can find out or continue to follow the track records of the candidates who are expected to advance in the contest.

A survey like this can also be responded positively by political parties. He said, the results of this survey could be used as a guide for them to prepare a strategy for the upcoming presidential election.

However, Ujang said, there was also a negative side to the emergence of this survey. According to him, the results of this survey can lead to public opinion. "Because some are promoted and some are discouraged," said Ujang when contacted by VOI, Tuesday, February 25.

The three survey agencies that released their projections regarding the 2024 presidential election are the Politika Research and Consulting (PRC) and Indonesian Political Parameters (PPI) survey, Indobarometer, and the National Survey Media (Median).

From the PRC and PPI results, there are 15 names of figures who are considered to have the electability to advance in the 2024 presidential election, including Deputy Chairman of the Gerindra Party Advisory Board Sandiaga Uno and DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan.

Apart from the two names, there are also Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil, Chairman of the Democratic Party Kogasma Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY), and Ustaz Abdul Somad.

Then there are also names such as TNI Commander Gatot Nurmantyo, former KKP Minister Susi Pudjiastuti, Head of General TNI Andika Perkasa, BUMN Minister Erick Thohir, Chairman of the Indonesian Parliament Puan Maharani, Head of KSP Moeldoko, Minister of Education and Culture Nadiem Makarim, General Chair of the Golkar Party Airlangga Hartarto and Head of BIN Budi Gunawan.

Meanwhile, the results of the Indobarometer survey, there were three ministers of President Joko Widodo who entered the 2024 presidential election.

Meanwhile, from the results of the National Survey Media Survey (Median), Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto received the highest electability, followed by DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan.

Prabowo is not new to the world of national politics. He has already participated in the presidential election as a candidate three times. Once as a vice presidential candidate, and twice as a presidential candidate.

In 2009, he became a vice presidential candidate paired with PDI-P Chairman Megawati Sukarnoputri. This pair lost to Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono-Boediono.

Then, in 2014, Prabowo became a presidential candidate alongside the Chairman of PAN, Hatta Rajasa. He lost to Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla.

Furthermore, he also lost the 2019 Presidential Election to Jokowi-Ma'ruf Amin. This time, Prabow teamed up with Sandiaga Uno.

PDIP, as the ruling party, casually responded to the results of this survey. PDIP DPP Chairperson Puan Maharani, who is also the chairman of the DPR, admits that he has not thought about a political agenda in 2024.

"I haven't thought about 2024, it's still 2020," said Puan at the Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Monday, February 24, adding that currently she is still focused on a number of tasks that must be completed in parliament.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the PDIP DPP Eriko Sotarduga said the party bearing the bull symbol is ready to face a political journey until 2024. But, he said, the PDIP would carry original cadres when fighting in the presidential election.

"Those who can advance in the 2024 presidential election must have a place now, so that people can see. They can be from businessmen, but actively become party cadres," he told reporters some time ago in the Cikini area, Central Jakarta, some time ago.

Moreover, he added, the process of regeneration in this party has been going on for a long time. So, the Chairperson of the PDIP, Megawati Soekarnoputri, often prioritizes her cadres to compete in this 5-year event.

"The party should be like that. Prioritize cadres. Leaders in the executive or legislative branches must be discussed in the party as a candradimuka crater," said Eriko.