High Electability Doesn't Make PDI-P Haste To Promote Certain Names In The Presidential Election

Megawati Soekarnoputri/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - The PDI-P (PDIP) does not want to be tempted to support candidates who are considered to have high electability, including the Governor of Central Java Ganjar Pranowo in the 2024 Presidential Election (Pilpres).

PDIP Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto said high electability was not the only benchmark for carrying out a particular presidential candidate. There are things that are actually more important, namely enthusiasm.

"Although the electoral survey is high, there is no spirit, without the so-called Ibu Mega (General Chairperson of PDIP Megawati Soekarnoputri) a burning of fire in the chest of every cadre, it means nothing. So the most important thing is an elan struggle like a burning fire," Hasto told reporters at the Grand Paragon Hotel, Jakarta, Tuesday, June 14.

Not only talking about fighting spirit, Hasto said there are other things that will be assessed by PDIP before carrying a certain name. Including whether or not they are able to carry out the mandate and how courageous they are in taking risks for the nation and state.

"The leader is observed how his performance, how his character. Commitment. How courageous in taking risks to the interests of the nation and state," he said.

"That is a process that is carried out by Mrs. Megawati Soekarnoputri and also as a person who fears God Almighty, of course asking for guidance from God Almighty because what we are looking for is a person who is able to be responsible to more than 270 million Indonesian people," added Hasto.

Meanwhile, PDIP Deputy Secretary General Arif Wibowo emphasized that decisions related to the general election, especially the 2024 presidential election, cannot be based solely on survey results. The facts on the ground must be taken into account.

"Assuming is difficult. So we are moving in the field. Elections are a reality, not imagining, not assuming," said Arif.

Even so, PDIP will not turn a blind eye to the results of the existing survey. Later, the existing statistics will be used as a winning strategy.

"That there are surveys, there are theories, there are concepts and so on, we will mix everything into one winning strategy," he said.

Like Hasto, Arif also said that his party is currently waiting for Megawati Soekarnoputri's decision on who will be promoted in the 2024 presidential election. At the right time, PDIP will announce the name.

PDIP, he continued, will also not be affected by the voices of volunteers who carry certain names such as Ganjar. "The constitution of our party, the authority to determine candidates for president, vice president, ministers, deputy ministers is the prerogative of the general chairman," said Arif.

"Just relax. Volunteers let them do whatever they want," he added.

A number of surveys say that the Governor of Central Java, Ganjar Pranowo, has a high level of electability. Most recently, Saiful Mujani Research & Consulting released the results of a survey related to the electability of figures and the results were that Ganjar excelled in all simulations.

SMRC Research Director Deni Irvani said Ganjar's electability was 14.3 percent in the top of mind simulation. Then followed by Prabowo Subianto at 13.4 percent.

"If the presidential election was held during the survey, Ganjar Pranowo would have a significant advantage over his opponents, including his most powerful opponents, Prabowo and Anies," Deni said in an official statement, Thursday, June 9.

The figures who are in the third and fourth places are Joko Widodo and Anies Baswedan with an electability of 8.2 percent.

In the semi-opened question format of 42 names, Deni said that Ganjar again received the most support with 22.5 percent. "Followed by Prabowo 17.5 percent, Anies Baswedan 13.2 percent," he said.

While in the closed-choice simulation of 3 names, Ganjar also became the champion because he received the most support at 30.3 percent, followed by Prabowo 27.3 percent, and Anies 22.6 percent.

In the closed-choice simulation of 2 names, Ganjar Pranowo received the most support at 39.9 percent, ahead of Anies Baswedan with 34.5 percent.

Finally, in a closed-choice simulation of 2 names, Ganjar Pranowo received the most support at 38.4 percent, while Prabowo Subianto had 36.6 percent.

"Compared to 2 months ago. Support for Prabowo and Anies tended to not change much, Prabowo fell 0.1 percent, Anies 1.2 percent, while support for Ganjar rose 4.4 percent," said Deni.