Prabowo Effect In Central Java Gubernatorial Election, This Is A Candidate Who Will Get His Blessing

Gerindra Chairman Prabowo Subianto with Central Java Gerindra Chair Sudaryono/DOK IST

JAKARTA - A number of names have emerged as candidates for the Central Java gubernatorial election (Pilgub) which will be held in the simultaneous regional elections in November 2024. They are fighting for sympathy from the residents of Central Java and the blessing of political parties to be carried in the upcoming regional elections.

Interestingly, of the 4 gubernatorial elections on the island of Java which will be held simultaneously in November, only Central Java has no incumbent candidates, after Ganjar Pranowo has served for two terms. New names also emerged for Central Java 1 candidates.

Apart from that, although Central Java is known as the 'Central Kandang Banteng', the political constellation in the Central Java Pilkada after the 2024 presidential election is interesting to observe, because the figure of Prabowo Subianto, the President-elect and General Chair of the Gerindra Party.

In fact, Prabowo, who was paired with Gibran Rakabuming Raka, managed to take a landslide lead over his two rivals, Ganjar Pranowo and Anies Baswedan in Central Java in the 2024 presidential election.

That way, Prabowo's 'effect' factor in the Central Java gubernatorial election becomes an important variable.

A political observer from the University of Indonesia (UI) Cecep Hidayat assesses that Prabowo effect will greatly determine the political constellation in the 2024 Central Java Pilgub. Prabowo has popularity, a loyal support base and also a political party machine.

Prabowo effect refers to Prabowo's strong influence as President and General Chair of the Gerindra Party. With this capacity, Prabowo has access to political resources and government.

Thus, Prabowo's political appointment is to place his people in strategic positions, which is in accordance with his vision and mission to execute programs and policies to increase his popularity.

"Then who is the candidate who got the effect?" said Cecep Hidayat when contacted by reporters, Monday, July 1, 2024.

So far, a number of Central Java Gerindra DPCs have unanimously expressed their support for Sudaryono, who in fact is the chairman of the Central Java Gerindra DPD, to be nominated as a Central Java cagub.

According to Cecep, Prabowo as the Head of Gerindra certainly has an interest in carrying his own cadres in the Central Java gubernatorial election. In addition, the figure of Sudaryono is not a foreign person for Prabowo.

"The strong desire of Gerindra is that they want to support Sudaryono, Chairman of the Central Java Gerindra DPD (as cagub). Moreover, Sudaryono is a strong candidate who can get strong support from Prabowo," he said.

If Gerindra's political machine runs, then Cecep said, it is not impossible that Gerindra will nominate Sudaryono as the Central Java Cagub, side by side with another name as the cawagub promoted by the Advanced Indonesia Coalition (KIM).

He believes that Prabowo effect in general will have a significant effect on Gerindra and the candidates who are promoted in the 2024 Pilkada. "Prebowo support is expected to support the electability of candidates, if later given to Sudaryono," he said.