Golkar Has A Strategic Position But Chooses To Wait For Jokowi's Direction, Determination Of KIB Presidential And Vice Presidential Candidates Becomes Tough

PAN chairman Zulkifli Hasan (left) relies on the chairman of the Golkar Party Airlangga Hartarto (medium) and Plt Ketum PPP Mardiono (right) during the meeting of KIB, Wednesday, November 30. (Between-Rivan A L)

Political observer from Al Azhar University Indonesia, Ujang Komarudin assessed that the determination of presidential candidates (candidates) and vice presidential candidates (cawapres) from the United Indonesia Coalition (KIB) was tough. The reason is that members of KIB, PAN and PPP have one vote supporting Ganjar Pranowo as presidential candidates. Meanwhile, Golkar is still waiting for the direction of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi). According to Ujang, although he has not yet determined the choice of Golkar to have an important role in KIB in the process of determining pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates. Golkar's positioning, which has 85 seats in the DPR or the second largest in parliament, has an effect on determining the KIB candidate in the 2024 presidential election.

"However, the number of seats in the second largest parliament, in KIB is also the largest compared to PAN and PPP. This makes the bargaining value of Golkar high in the context of determining the presidential and vice presidential candidates," said Ujang, Wednesday, March 1.

Even though he has a strategic position to be able to determine the direction of the coalition's support and solidity, Ujang assesses that Golkar is reluctant to take this opportunity because the General Chair of the Golkar Party, Airlangga Hartarto, has stated that the candidate is waiting for directions from President Jokowi.

"What is an obstacle for Golkar is that after all, the chairman has said about the presidential candidate waiting for Pak Jokowi's blessing," said Ujang.

This put Golkar in a dilemma. On the one hand, he has the strength to determine at KIB, the other side is in the president's 'category'. "That's actually the complicated and complicated thing. On the one hand, Golkar as a big and decisive party, at the same time, the matter of presidential and vice-presidential candidates is waiting for Pak Jokowi's direction," he said.

Therefore, Ujang suggested that there be efforts to mix between Golkar's strength and Jokowi's will so that KIB could immediately make decisions regarding the determination of presidential and vice presidential candidates. Moreover, other KIB members, namely PAN and PPP, are just waiting for the coalition boat to sail.

"I see that it must be compromised between Golkar's big role in KIB and Pak Jokowi's will," he concluded.