Observing Jokowi's Political Manuver In The 2024 Presidential Election

President Jokowi together with PDIP Chairman Megawati Soekarnoputri and PDIP Presidential Candidate Ganjar Pranowo. (Between/Akbar Nugroho Gumay)

JAKARTA - Ahead of the registration of presidential candidates (candidates) and vice presidential candidates (Cawapres) for the 2024 Presidential Election (Pilpres), political dynamics in Indonesia are increasingly in the spotlight.

Later, the declaration of one of the volunteer organizations supporting President Joko Widodo or what Projo called Prabowo Subianto in the 2024 presidential election was considered controversial.

Projo's declaration of support was delivered at Prabowo Subianto's residence on Jalan Kertanegara, South Jakarta, on Saturday (14/10/2023). This was done shortly after Projo heard Jokowi's direction at the Projo Sixth National Working Meeting at the Indonesia Arena GBK, on the same day.

Even though in the National Working Meeting which was also attended by Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Jokowi did not clearly express his support for Prabowo. In his remarks, Jokowi only advised his supporters not to rush into making choices.

But after the National Working Meeting, his supporters matched Prabowo's residence and concluded that Jokowi supported Prabowo in the presidential election.

"He (Jokowi) has conveyed several things, including the candidate who continued with him. We from Projo concluded that the candidate in question was Prabowo Subianto," said Projo Chairman Budi Arie Setiadi.

Projo's declaration of support for Prabowo Subianto is considered controversial. Because like it or not, Jokowi is the winner of the last two editions of the presidential election with PDIP as his political vehicle. On the other hand, the party bearing the bull symbol carries Ganjar Pranowo, who will clearly compete with Prabowo Subianto and Anies Baswedan in the 2024 election.

But political observer from Al Azhar University Andriadi Achmad did not see this oddity. According to him, Projo's declaration of Prabowo actually'regimizes' Jokowi's support for the man who now serves as Minister of Defense.

"It has been a long time since Projo's behavior has actually been seen supporting Prabowo. With yesterday's declaration, it has become a sign that they have been approved by Jokowi," Andriadi told VOI.

So far, the most passionate thing about Jokowi is Prabowo. This has become a sign that Projo will cross into Prabowo, Andriadi added.

The assumption that Jokowi played in two legs in the 2024 presidential election has emerged several months ago, because the president seems to have not determined his position in the presidential election contestation next year.

As the president promoted by PDIP, Jokowi inevitably supports Ganjar Pranowo from his party. But his relationship with Prabowo, which looks harmonious in the past few years, hinted that Jokowi was ready to be behind his former rivals in the 2014 and 2019 presidential elections.

Moreover, Jokowi is considered necessary to "show his strength" in the political arena. The trick is to support the General Chair of the Gerindra Party, although he is not clearly shown. Jokowi is also said to want to escape the shadow of the PDIP, who calls him a party official.

Jokowi's two-leg politics is increasingly visible through the movements of his two sons. Gibran is considered closer to Prabowo, and this can be seen from several intimate meetings between the Mayor of Solo and Prabowo at an angkringan in Solo in May.

Meanwhile, the youngest Kaesang Pangarep also caused a public commotion by choosing to anchor at PSI. He was even appointed as chairman of the millennial party. PSI's closeness with Prabowo further made clear the allegation that Jokowi 'put' support for the Gerindra Ketum through Kaesang.

"Jokowi plays on two legs. As a PDIP cadre he supports Ganjar, but he also continues to provide a code of support for Prabowo," said Andriadi.

Why does Jokowi have to play on two legs? One of the reasons is because the former mayor of Solo does not have a strong position in PDIP. As is known, it is difficult to replace the figure of Megawati Soekarnoputri as the most powerful person in PDIP. Meanwhile, Jokowi only has the status of an ordinary cadre after his retirement as president.

According to political expert Ujang Komaruddin, Jokowi wants to become a king maker and this is difficult to find internally at the PDIP.

"Jokowi feels uncomfortable, has no influence, has no strength, his position is weak, so he wants to become a king maker, to be a determinant," said Ujang.

"When he is no longer president, then Jokowi does not have a political back up. Then where will he lean? Because surely he will be tricked by his political opponents when he is no longer president," said Ujang explaining.