Want To Win In The 2024 Election? Golkar Must Have The Courage To Raise The Issues Of People's Lives

JAKARTA - Since the 1998 reform era, the Golkar Party is considered to have continued to evolve in improving the democratic system. Golkar is considered to continue to make changes to become a modern party.

Professor of the State Islamic University (UIN) Syarif Hidayatullah, Azyumardi Azra Even said that the recruitment and regeneration system in the banyan party is recognized as one of the best in the country.

"Since the reformation and democratization period, the Golkar party has remained a modern party, perhaps even as the only modern party in Indonesia," said Azyumardi Azra, a Muslim scholar and professor at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah, Jakarta, in a webinar entitled "Two Decades of Golkar Victory 2004- 2024", Saturday, October 16 last.

One of the parameters of Golkar as a modern party according to Azyumardi Azra is the existence of the Golkar Party which is filled by many technocrats and cadres with merit or ability-based system. Until now the political system in Golkar is very democratic and there is almost no visible dynasty or oligarchy.

"Dynasty means that it is controlled by descendants and oligarchs are controlled by a limited political elite. If Golkar is not, we can see that anyone can actually become a leader in Golkar, can experience political mobility in Golkar," said the former Chancellor of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah.

This is an added value for the party currently led by Airlangga Hartarto, when compared to other parties. Apart from being dynamic, Golkar is very open to any cadre to lead the party.

For Azyumardi, these points are an added value for the Golkar Party. Especially in attracting the voices of young people who are critical of the existence of dynastic politics and oligarchy in Indonesia.

"One advantage that I think Golkar can sell today, especially to the millennial generation, is that Golkar is a merit party, not a dynastic party," said Azyumardi Azra.

Furthermore, according to Azyumardi, Golkar must be able to bring issues closer to young voters. According to him, according to BPS data for 2020, currently, young voters or first voters dominate the voter turnout to above 50 percent. Golkar, must be able to reach young voters and in general bring up issues concerning the livelihoods of many people, besides of course not forgetting the issue of rising from the economic downturn. "To potential young voters, for example, they will definitely be interested in raising issues of how to face their future. How is education better, higher education is now more expensive. In my opinion, issues like that can be raised during consolidation," said Ayzumardi

Furthermore, Azyumardi also suggested the party bearing the banyan symbol to immediately seek steps to consolidate divided voices by embracing Nasdem, Hanura until Gerindra returns to its parent.

"There must be steps to consolidate splinter groups or separate them from their parent Golkar," he concluded.