Amien Rais' Character Is Still Strong, The Ummat Party Is Believed To Be Able To Crush The Votes Of PAN Voters

Amien Rais (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Amien Rais' Ummat Party is predicted to gain the same success when Amien, who was once nicknamed the Father of Reformasi, led PAN to succeed in the 2004 elections.

Political observer from Al Azhar University Indonesia Andriadi Achmad assessed that Amien Rais' figure is still a magnet for the Ummah Party. In fact, it is estimated that the PAN vote niche will shift to the party which is now chaired by Ridho Rahmadi.

"PAN, which today lost its reputation because Amien Rais left, only relies on Zulkifli Hasan, I don't think it is too convincing," said Andriadi to VOI, Friday, April 30.

According to Andriadi, some of the PAN votes, especially from Muhammadiyah circles, will definitely follow Amien Rais. This is because the figure of the former chairman of the MPR is synonymous with these Islamic organizations.

"My prediction is (to move to the Ummat Party. Ed). Because neither PAN Muhammdiyah, the figures have been divided. If Amien Rais is already synonymous with Muhammadiyah, he will definitely run to the Ummmat Party," he explained.

Not to mention, he continued, there are other figures who are close to the Ummat Party and have a support base. For example, former Head of PP Muhamadiyah Din Syamsudin, former TNI Commander Gatot Nurmantyo, and DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan who carried the ballot carriage.

"It could also be a niche for Ummat Party voters, bigger than PAN. Because he (the Ummat Party, red) is diverse. Alumni 212, Muhammadiyah, continue to reincarnate Masyumi," said the Executive Director of the Archipelago Institute PolCom SRC.

"So the market niche is 212 alumni and the PAN masses. I predict that the Ummah Party will have a place in 2024," he said.

The target of the Ummah Party

General Chairman of the Ummat Party, Ridho Rahmadi, is targeting the party initiated by Amien Rais to be able to win double-digit votes in the 2024 elections.

"Our optimistic target, the target of Pak Amien and all of us, our bismillah is targeting double digits," Ridho said when he was quoted as saying by Antara in Sleman, Thursday, April 29.

However, for the time being, according to him, the target was still just an expression of the enthusiasm of the Ummah Party management.

"Two digits is our term for optimism, of course it means above 10 percent and above, yes," said Amien Rais' son-in-law.

The younger generation, said Ridho, would be the main target to be recruited as cadres of the party.

According to him, the party that was just declared was open and ready to embrace all circles. Not only exclusively for Muslim cadres, but also for non-Muslims.

However, he admitted that based on the results of communication with most of the PICs in the regions, the recruitment of cadres from the Islamic community organization base was still a mainstay.

A number of figures who have joined, such as former UN General Chair MS Kaban and Neno Warisman, according to him, have further added to the belief that the party will be able to recruit more cadres in the future.

"Like Mbak Neno, he chaired various organizations where there were party people in it too. I am sure that this could be a consideration to join us," he said.