Luthfi-Yasin's Victory Will Solidate PDIP's Position As Opposition

The couple Ahmad Luthfi and Taj Yasin Maimoen during the campaign in Solo. (IG @luthfiyasinofficial)

JAKARTA The victory of the pair Ahmad Luthfi-Taj Yasin Maimoen (Lutfi-Yasin) over Andika Perkasa-Hendrar Prihadi in the 2024 Central Java gubernatorial election is considered to be consolidating the position of PDI-P as an opposition in Central Java.

The reason is, even though the pair they carried lost, Central Java was still the vote barn for PDIP and the party led by Megawati Soekarnoputri was also still dominant in the Central Java DPRD with 32 seats in the 2024 Legislative Election.

PDIP, which controls the DPRD, will be very critical of programs in Central Java, especially programs from the center. Because, local governments are an extension from the center, PDIP will be very solid in opposition," said Undip political observer Yoga Putra Prameswari, Sunday, December 1, 2024.

On the other hand, Yoga considers that the Luthfi-Yasin pair's victory over Andika-Hendi is a natural thing. According to him, there are several factors that make Luthfi-Yasin able to win the 'duel' in the Central Java gubernatorial election.

First, open support from the 7th President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and President Prabowo Subianto. Second, the police network owned by Luthfi in Central Java.

Third, the composition of Luthfi-Yasin tends to be seen more ideally, where Luthfi represents nationalists, while Yasin represents the santri.

The appropriate composition in Central Java is Islam and nationalist. The figure of Taj Yasin from the santri and Ahmad Luthfi from Gerindra fits politics in Central Java," he said.

However, Yoga still criticizes Jokowi and Prabowo's vulgarities in the Central Java gubernatorial election, which are considered unhealthy for democracy because it makes the 2024 Central Java gubernatorial election seem unfair.

"This should be a note and public concern, including academics," he added.