Closed To Prabowo, Gus Imin Or Airlangga, The NasDem Convention Could Boomerang

Illustration-NasDem Flag (Photo: DOK ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The NasDem Party is again in the spotlight because it closed the registration of the presidential candidate convention for the general chairmen of political parties. In fact, the convention, which was originally set to open in 2022, could become a vehicle for capturing potential presidential candidates from various circles.

Esa Unggul University Political Communication Observer M Jamiluddin Ritonga said that NasDem still needed to form a coalition with other political parties. Referring to the 2019 Legislative Election, the party created by Surya Paloh only received 9.05 percent of the vote.

"Which means, the candidates elected in the convention may not necessarily be supported by NasDem," said Jamil in Jakarta, Friday, June 18.

Not to mention during the coalition, NasDem will be faced with a principle constraint where the general chairman of a political party is not allowed to follow the convention. In fact, several general chairmen of political parties such as Prabowo Subianto, Airlangga Hartarto, Muhaimin Iskandar, and Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) are suspected to be nominated by the party in the 2024 presidential election.

"This political party will naturally find it difficult to form a coalition with NasDem," said Jamil.

Therefore, Jamiluddin considered that the NasDem convention which closed the door for political party leaders would backfire. Because, in the end, the presidential candidate from the convention could not be carried in the 2024 presidential election.

"So, hopefully NasDem realizes that," he explained.

Apart from that, it is important to appreciate the NasDem Party presidential candidate convention because it provides the widest possible space for the nation's children who want to get tickets for the 2024 presidential candidate. In fact, the convention is considered more transparent and democratic.

"This open competition ensures that the elected candidates really go through a rigorous selection by involving the community. So, the public knows the capacity and integrity of the candidates selected in the convention," said Jamil.

According to him, this convention will assist voters in determining their choice during the upcoming 2024 presidential election. "So voters no longer vote for presidential candidates like cats in a sack," he said.