'Loss Level' To The Jakarta Pilkada After Losing In The 2024 Presidential Election, Anies: Any Role Can Have A Big Impact

Anies Baswedan at the PKB DPW Office (Doc Diah Ayu/VOI)

JAKARTA - Anies Baswedan explained the reason he again intends to become a candidate for governor when he previously fought at the national level, as a presidential candidate for the 2024 General Election. In the 2024 election, Anies, who was paired with Muhaimin Iskandar or Cak Imin, had to admit the superiority of Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka. Many view Anies as dropping levels because he is back in the provincial-level political contestation. However, Anies did not question that. "I convey to all that the roles given can be changed. But I convey, in any role, I convey, it can have a big impact," said Anies when met at the DKI Jakarta PKB DPW office, East Jakarta, Thursday, June 13. According to Anies, each process has its beginning and end. When the 2024 presidential election competition is over, all candidates return to their respective duties. He gave an example, Prabowo Subianto is now back to focusing on working as Minister of Defense until President Jokowi's leadership period is over and will continue the new beginning as President for the 2024-2029 period. Then, Muhaimin Iskandar, after the 2024 presidential election, his role as vice presidential candidate ended and returned to focus on serving as Chairman of PKB. "Well, I served in Jakarta. When I was assigned to Jakarta, I had worked on one period. After completing the presidential election process, I returned to my original position. As what? As a governor who has completed one period and there is a election for the next period," explained Anies. Now, Anies has been supported by the DKI Jakarta PKB DPW to be promoted as a candidate for the Governor of DKI Jakarta in the 2024 Pilkada. The former governor of DKI Jakarta assessed that he could still play a role in leading the region when he was elected in the 2024 gubernatorial election. "When PKB gives confidence to become a candidate for governor and hopefully this can be carried out, later on to continue what has never been done, improve what has never been achieved. Hopefully, the impact will be good for all of us," he explained. On the one hand, Anies hopes that other political parties can join forces to support him. Given, the main priority in preparing for the candidacy, after being supported by PKB Jakarta as a candidate for governor, is to find a coalition of parties. This is because PKB must look for a coalition of political parties that can meet the nomination threshold for the number of DPRD seats, namely at least 22 seats in Jakarta for the 2024 Legislative Election. Meanwhile, the PKB seat acquisition in the 2024 DPRD legislative election is only 10 seats. "Right now, we are thinking about how to make PKB not alone, but together with other parties because it can't be alone, right?" said Anies. Anies admitted that a number of provincial-level party officials other than PKB had visited him to discuss opportunities for investigation, including PKS, PDIP, and the NasDem Party.

However, only PKB DKI Jakarta has officially announced its support for Anies. The former governor of DKI Jakarta hopes that other parties will immediately carry it so that the coalition can form before the nomination period to the KPU.