The Voice of the Democrats Down the Trail Supporting Prabowo Subianto in the 2019 Presidential Election in History Today, May 11, 2019

Portrait of the Prabowo Subianto - Sandiaga Uno grand campaign. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - History today, seven years ago, May 11, 2019, the Democratic Party assessed that their votes decreased as a result of supporting Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno in the 2019 Presidential Election. The Democratic Party elite felt that identity politics was one of the causes.

Previously, the Democratic Party and Gerindra were known as the opposition in the Joko Widodo (Jokowi) government. Both parties are known to be noisy critics of Jokowi's policies. Interestingly, the two parties later agreed to carry Prabowo-Sandi in the 2019 presidential election.

There is no doubt about the existence of the Democratic Party and Gerindra as the opposition. They firmly chose the opposition path because Jokowi became the elected President of Indonesia. The oversight function is carried out in every Jokowi government program.

Criticism and condemnation will be directed at the government because the policies made are detrimental to the people. Both parties are known to be noisy in their own ways. This condition makes both parties have their own fans.

Those who are represented by critics are beginning to line up in support of the government criticism party. This condition then makes the two parties begin to look at the 2019 presidential election. Both major parties consider that they can bring about change if they become part of the government.

The option of collaborating with Jokowi is considered not the answer. The most likely option is to fight against it. The two parties then agreed to advance Prabowo-Sandi in the 2019 presidential election. The pair is considered capable of defeating Jokowi who is paired with Mar'uf Amin.

A massive campaign was carried out. Party machines began to move to pack the image. Support from religious scholars came. A thing that later many people believed to be identity politics.

The public's acceptance of Prabowo-Sandi is huge. However, the journey is not always smooth. Prabowo and Sandi must admit the superiority of Jokowi-Mar'uf who is more liked by the Indonesian people.

"And also 22 other countries that have congratulated us on the big democratic party in our country, the pileg and the presidential election. He congratulated the people of Indonesia and also to Joko Widodo and KH Ma'ruf Amin for the success of the April 17 election yesterday."

"We know that the so-called quick count is a scientific way of counting and from the experience of past elections. The accuracy is 99 percent, almost the same as the real count. However, we must remain patient, patiently waiting for the official counting results from the KPU," said Jokowi as quoted by CNBC Indonesia, April 20, 2019.

Prabowo-Sandi's defeat brought deep wounds to his supporters. Especially the Democratic Party. The relationship between the Democratic Party and Gerindra became strained. The Democratic Party is not only confused with Prabowo's defeat, but they also feel that supporting Prabowo makes the party's vote in the pileg decrease on May 11, 2019.

The voice of the democrats who were down was revealed because of the pattern of identity politics played in the presidential election. As a result, many Democratic cadres who participated in the presidential election were stuck in the path because of the image of identity politics built by the Prabowo-Sandi camp. Those who are not Muslims find it difficult to find votes.

"We have proven for 7 months that we are serious about winning Prabowo. In fact, because we support Prabowo, our party's votes have decreased. Caleg like me is not chosen because of identity politics."

"So don't forget (Gerindra cadres) Poyuono. Instead of dealing with many things about the Democrats, it's better to deal with the bald bald who gave Prabowo 62 percent data. That's the truth, the truth, the truth. So Poyuono is dealing with the 62 percent figure that is the truth," said the Chairman of the DPP of the Democratic Party, Jansen Sitindaon, as quoted by lamandetik.com, May 11, 2019.