NasDem Is Considered No Longer All Out Supports Anies In The Jakarta Gubernatorial Election, This Is The Reason

Former Governor of DKI Jakarta Anies Baswedan (@aniesbaswedan)

Political communication expert Anthony Leong assessed that the NasDem Party's support for Anies Baswedan at the 2024 Jakarta Governor and Deputy Governor Election (Pilgub) looked different compared to their support during the 2024 Presidential and Vice Presidential Election (Pilpres). According to Anthony, NasDem will no longer go all out to win Anies in the Jakarta gubernatorial election.

One of the reasons, said Anthony, is that NasDem is maintaining his political position for the next five years so that this time he will not appear in front like he supported Anies in yesterday's presidential election.

"NasDem is considering its political position in the next five years for greater interests. Moreover, the relationship between the General Chairperson of NasDem Surya Paloh and President Jokowi, who had tenuously in the last presidential election, is now being intimate again. It seems that Surya Paloh and Jokowi often have discussions after the presidential election, meaning that the relationship between the two is being intimate again," said Anthony in his statement, Tuesday, July 16.

According to Anthony, Nasdem tried to keep their relationship from falling back. In the last presidential election, NasDem became the first party to support Anies and stand at the forefront of defending Anies from efforts to criminalize the Formula E case. However, this time the situation is different.

"Kita tahu Jokowi tidak mendukung Anies baik di pilpres maupun dalam Pilgub Jakarta. NaDdem paham terkait sikap Jokowi ini sehingga Nasdem berusaha untuk menjaga hubungan Jokowi dan Nasdem tidak terganggu. Itulah kenapa Nasdem kali ini belum berdiri paling depan membela Anies," jelas Direktur PoliEco Digital Insights Institute (Pedas) ini.

According to Anthony, NasDem's strategy in carrying Anies Baswedan in the presidential election as a step to increase the party's electoral position has proven successful. The Nasdem seat in the DPR increased because it managed to win the hearts of voters, Anies Baswedan, who was predominantly Muslim in the last legislative election.

However, he said, in the Jakarta gubernatorial election, NasDem's strategy was different because it prioritized long-term strategic interests and larger interests.

"NasDem's more careful steps in supporting Anies in the Jakarta gubernatorial election this time reflect their efforts to maintain good relations with President Jokowi and take into account the party's long-term political interests," concluded Anthony.