Measuring The Vice Presidential Exchange Ganjar: Sandiaga, Andika And Cak Imin

Ganjar Pranowo will be presidential candidate with the Chairman of Bappilu PPP Sandiaga Uno/DOK PHOTO via Instagram @sandiuno

JAKARTA - PDI Perjuangan (PDIP) has announced as many as five candidates for vice president (cawapres) Ganjar Pranowo.

A total of three names among them are said to be the strongest figures, namely Menparekrat Sandiaga Uno, former TNI Commander Andika Perkasa, and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Muhaimin Iskandar (Cak Imin).

Executive Director of Indonesia Political Opinion (IPO) Dedi Kurnia Syah said that Sandiaga is currently the most potential person to become Ganjar's vice presidential assistant compared to Andika and Cak Imin.

Apart from being a PPP cadre who is a political party in a coalition with PDIP, Sandi also has the same power as the most potential figure to become the vice presidential candidate accompanying Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, SOE Minister Erick Thohir.

"The decision to appoint the presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo lies with President Jokowi and (Chairman of PDIP) Megawati. If you refer to the situation, then Sandi is the most potential figure," he said in a written statement, Monday, July 31.

"Compared to Muhaimin Iskandar or Andika Perkasa, Sandiaga Uno is superior in the current leadership," added Dedi.

PDIP is called a political party that attaches importance to the electability of the future vice presidential candidate accompanying Ganjar, with the number of seats owned by political parties

According to him, Sandiaga will be chosen to accompany Ganjar because he has electability that can increase Ganjar's electability in the 2024 presidential election.

"In terms of PKB and PPP comparisons, it must be seen who will be promoted. If PKB, Muhaimin, and PPP, Sandiaga, it is clear that PPP is preferred over PKB, because the portion of votes is not necessarily able to win candidates," he said.

Meanwhile, political observer from Al Azhar University, Ujang Komarudin, said that the figure of the vice presidential candidate accompanying Ganjar was Megawati's prerogative.

"Dependent cawapres Ganjar Megawati," he said.

However, he also said that PPP could leave the coalition with PDIP if Sandiaga was not elected as Ganjar's vice presidential candidate. According to him, the possibility is open depending on the political dynamics that develop in the future.

"It could be a leave, maybe not. It depends on the interests ahead, we'll see. But what is clear is that looking for another port, another coalition is good. If you don't leave, you will be left out with PKB," said Ujang.

Even so, future conditions can change considering the dynamical politics. "Depending on the political dynamics in the future, everything is still dynamic," he added.

For information, the Acting Chairperson of PPP, Mardiono, previously mentioned the relationship between Anies Baswedan and Sandiaga Uno when he won the 2017 DKI Regional Election. Mardiono's statement immediately reopened the discourse on the reunion of Anies and Sandi in the 2024 presidential election.

"He (Sandiaga) succeeded in bringing Anies to become the Governor of DKI Jakarta. Anies' success was impossible without Sandiaga's contribution," said Mardiono at the inauguration of the DPP Women's United Development (WPP) board in Surabaya, Sunday (30/7).