Observer Of 3 NasDem Presidential Candidates: Andika Perkasa Low Electability, Ganjar Needs Megawati's Blessing

The head of the NasDem Party, Surya Paloh, announced the names of three presidential candidates who will be promoted in the 2024 presidential election. (Photo: Nailin In Saroh/VOI)

DENPASAR - Paramadina University Political Observer Ahmad Khoirul Umam assessed that the three presidential candidates recommended by NasDem, namely Anies Baswedan, Ganjar Pranowo, and General TNI Andika Perkasa each faced challenges that needed to be overcome before advancing to the 2024 presidential election.

The challenges faced by the three presidential candidates as a result of the recommendation of the NasDem National Working Meeting (Rakernas) are related to the solidity of support, political communication, and electability.

Umam conveyed that DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan still needed to convince his internal NasDem supporters.

"Anies still has big homework (PR) to ensure the solidity of his supporters within NasDem," said Umam as quoted by Antara, Saturday, June 18.

Not only related to support, Anies is also still facing the problem of electability (level of electability).

"The public will test how competitive Anies' electability level is after he does not become governor of DKI Jakarta at the end of 2022," he said.

Anies Baswedan, who officially served as Governor of DKI Jakarta in 2017, will end his duties in October 2022.

Meanwhile, the Governor of Central Java, Ganjar Pranowo, is still attached to the PDI-P, so he needs the support of party officials, especially the PDI-P Chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri.

"Ganjar still needs the certainty of Megawati's political approval amid the loss of support from the PDI-P elite for Ganjar. NasDem itself must be able to regulate its political communication steps so that it is not accused of being a party to hijack cadres from other parties," said Umam.

"If the political communication is not managed properly by NasDem, then it is considered that it will affect the relationship between NasDem and PDI-P in the future," continued Umam.

Umam added that the appointment of TNI General Andika Perkasa, who is currently still active as TNI Commander, was also not easy, because his electability was still low.

"Indeed, after the NasDem candidacy, Andika's electability can be increased. However, her popularity base which is still limited needs to be monitored, especially after Andika retired from the position of TNI Commander," said Unam.

TNI General Andika Perkasa officially served as TNI Commander replacing TNI Marshal (Ret.) Hadi Tjahjanto on November 17, 2021.

Andika enters retirement on December 21, 2022, when she is 58 years old.

Regardless of the NasDem nomination for a presidential candidate, Umam hopes that the TNI Commander will maintain his neutrality and keep the TNI independent.

"This NasDem political ijtihad (effort, ed.) to nominate Andika should not interfere with his concentration as the TNI Commander who must maintain the neutrality and political independence of the TNI institutionally," said A. Khoirul Umam, Executive Director of the Institute of Democracy & Strategic Affairs (Indostrategic). .

NasDem Party DPP chairman Surya Paloh when reading the results of the NasDem National Work Meeting in Jakarta, Friday (17/6) recommended Anies, Ganjar, and Andika as the three presidential candidates for the 2024 presidential election.

"I remind you, there are no less than three names, the value is the same, the qualifications are the same. Only the order is different, 1, 2, and 3," said Surya Paloh in front of thousands of cadres at JCC Senayan, Jakarta, Friday.

He told party cadres that his party would choose one of the three candidates.

"God willing, we will determine a time and place, we will look for good days and good months. For us, nothing will make us urgent, whatever our decision," said Surya Paloh to NasDem cadres.