SMRC Survey: If Jokowi Is No Longer Nyapres, Prabowo Will Be Most Popular, Anies Follows Up

JAKARTA - The Saiful Mujani Research Center (SMRC) survey institute released an opinion poll regarding the choice of community presidential candidates in the upcoming presidential elections.

The Executive Director of SMRC, Sirojudin Abbas, said that Joko Widodo was the most chosen by respondents with 15.2 percent of support. Then, in second place is Prabowo Subianto with 13.4 percent, followed by Anies Baswedan with 6.1 percent.

"The trend (method) of top of mind in surveys so far, Jokowi has always received the highest support," said Sirojudin in a virtual survey presentation, Thursday, April 1.

Sirojudin continued the survey by issuing the name Jokowi. Because, according to the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, Jokowi is no longer allowed to run as a presidential candidate because the maximum limit for serving is 2 terms.

If Jokowi's name is issued, Prabowo Subianto will rank first in support of the presidential candidate by 20 percent. In addition, Anies received 11.2 percent support.

Then, the name Ganjar Pranowo received 8.8 percent support, Sandiaga Uno 5 percent, Ridwan Kamil 4.8 percent, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) 4.8 percent, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono 3.5 percent, Tri Rismaharini 3.1 percent, and other names under 3 percent. Then 17.6 percent did not answer.

"In the semi-open question, Prabowo experienced a significant increase in support to 20 percent. Other names also appeared but with a significant difference under Prabowo," explained Sirojudin.

Seeing the results of this survey, Sirojudin said that there are no prominent figures besides Jokowi who have the potential to become presidential candidates.

"Prabowo is at the top but not yet convincing for a figure who has been a candidate twice. His support is only 20 percent in semi-open simulations and it tends not to increase," he said.

This survey was conducted in the period 28 February to 8 March 2021. The survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews with 1,220 randomly selected respondents. The margin of error for this survey is estimated to be around 3.07 percent and the survey's confidence level is 95 percent.