Observer: The Arrest Of Edhy Prabowo Reduces Gerindra's Electability

Political observer from the Indonesia Public Institute (IPI) Karyono Wibowo (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Political observer from the Indonesia Public Institute (IPI) Karyono Wibowo argues that the arrest of the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries who is also a cadre of the Gerindra Party Edhy Prabowo by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) will have an impact on Prabowo Subianto's party.

"This case has the potential to reduce Prabowo's electability as a presidential candidate and also support for Gerindra in the 2024 elections. Because this event is recorded in the collective public memory," said Karyono, in Jakarta, as reported by Antara, Saturday.

According to him, the KPK's hand-arrest operation (OTT) against Edhy Prabowo did not only affect the Gerindra Party institution, but the most affected was Gerindra Chairman Prabowo Subianto, who was predicted to be a candidate for president in 2024.

"This incident is a matter of public consideration to conduct an assessment (assessment) of the integrity of Gerindra which often echoes anti-corruption narratives as put forward by Gerindra Chairman Prabowo Subianto," he also said.

The Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, who is also Deputy Chairperson of the Gerindra Party, Edhy Prabowo, was arrested by the KPK in connection with the corruption case of fry export a few days ago.

With this corruption case, the spirit of anti-corruption and clean governance that was echoed during the campaign overturned public perceptions of Prabowo and the Gerindra Party.

"The public will judge that the spirit of anti-corruption is just jargon and rhetoric," said the IPI Executive Director.

Large corruption cases involving political party cadres and leaders, especially party cadres who become public officials, said Karyono, usually have an electoral impact that has the potential to reduce the level of public trust and ultimately lower the level of support.

He gave an example, the bribery case of the Governor of Bank Indonesia which involved a number of cadres and PDIP leaders around 2008.

Another example is the corruption case that ensnared Democratic Party Treasurer Muhammad Nazaruddin, who dragged a number of Democratic Party cadres and leaders.

The corruption case of Golkar Party Chairperson Setya Novanto and Golkar Secretary General Idrus Marham and a number of other Golkar cadres also had an impact on decreasing public trust.

Likewise, the big corruption case that befell PKS President Lutfi Hasan Ishaaq and the case of PPP General Chair Romahurmuziy (Romi) have contributed to a decrease in trust and vote support.

"Likewise in the case of alleged corruption that ensnared Gerindra cadres, of course it has the potential to reduce the level of trust and vote support," he also said.

However, said Karyono, the impact of decreasing electability depends on whether or not this corruption case has become a public topic of discussion.

"If the alleged corruption case is indeed carried out systemically and becomes a continuous public discourse, then the impact can be significant in reducing vote support," said Karyono Wibowo.