INES Survey Calls Airlangga Suitable To Continue Jokowi's Program, Observers Say Performance Should Have An Impact On Electability

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto/PHOTO via ANTARA

JAKARTA - The results of the INES survey stated that the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto was the most chosen figure to continue President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi) development program after 2024.

The Golkar Party also unanimously wants to nominate Airlangga as a 2024 presidential candidate from the United Indonesia Coalition (KIB). However, Airlangga's brilliant track record in both the executive and the party is considered useless, if Airlangga is not able to boost his electability to prepare for the presidential election contestation.

Indonesian Political Parameter Executive Director Adi Prayitno said that Airlangga's performance as Coordinating Minister for the Economy could have an impact on his electability and popularity. Moreover, its role in dealing with economic problems in Indonesia is very strategic.

"The coordinating minister's performance should have an impact on electability," Adi told reporters, Friday, August 26.

According to Adi, Indonesia's economic performance is considered good by successfully maintaining Indonesia's inflation at 4.94 percent as of July 2022. Even though this figure is predicted to rise if the increase in subsidized fuel prices becomes a reality.

Unfortunately, said Adi, the public is not too concerned with how well a minister who has the potential to run as a presidential candidate in the 2024 presidential election does.

"The problem is, the public doesn't really care about the performance of a figure who is considered to have the potential to advance in 2024," he said.

According to Adi, the public tends to like someone who is close to the people, simple, and likes to visit. Because that kind of character is considered more striking in the minds of the public.

Therefore, it is an opportunity for Airlangga to win the hearts of the people by adopting this character if he wants to increase his electability and popularity.

"Yes, the public prefers and is interested in a figure who looks close to the people, blusukan, simple appearance, what it is, and so on," said Adi.

Previously, the Indonesia Network Election Survey (INES) noted that the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto was the most chosen figure to continue President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi) post-2024 development program.

INES Director Permadi said, as many as 84.7 percent of 1,928 respondents considered Airlangga a suitable candidate for president who was most likely to continue Jokowi's unfinished development program.

"From the answers of 1,928 respondents, 84.7 percent of respondents stated that Airlangga Hartarto is a candidate for the presidential candidate who, if elected, will continue Jokowi's development programs," Permadi said in a statement, Thursday, August 25.

After the name of Airlangga Hartarto, who is also the General Chair of the Golkar Party DPP, the name of the Governor of Central Java, Ganjar Pranowo, came in second with an electability of 56.8 percent. Furthermore, the name of Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto emerged with 51.8 percent.