Confident With Its Electability, Anies Should Run Independently

Photo caption: Anies Baswedan with residents of Jakarta. (IG @aniesbaswedan)

JAKARTA Anies Baswedan is said to have advanced in the 2024 Jakarta Pilkada through an independent route. This is because the incumbent governor is considered confident in his high electability in each survey.

According to the General Chairperson of the Lingkar Nusantara Advocate (Lisan), Hendarsam Marantoko, this is what makes Anies as if he does not need the support of political parties in the 2024 Jakarta Pilkada.

Anies is so confident in his electability, that it seems as if he doesn't need a political party. Even the paradigm is reversed, a political party that needs Anies. If that's the case, Anies should be confident in running from an independent path," he said in a written statement, Saturday, August 10, 2024.

Hendarsam revealed that the existing political parties still have many quality cadres and capabilities to become regional heads. Therefore, political parties should not need Anies just to win the Jakarta Pilkada.

He also emphasized that political parties must have the courage to orbit their own cadres or not support cadres from other parties. This is far more valuable than carrying an unidentified individual so that there are elites, including Anies who feel bigger than political parties.

"Anies doesn't need political parties, let him compete in his own way. It's important to test the quality of our democracy. This is the right time for us to return the ideology and political identity to more value than just popularity," said Hendarsam.

He stated that currently Indonesia needs political parties that are able to act as pillars of quality democracy, which do not prioritize political games and are trapped in someone's popularity.