PAN Benefited Much, But Not For Ridwan Kamil

West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - It is rumored that West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil will join the National Mandate Party (PAN) after stating that he is ready to become a presidential candidate in 2024. The rumor is considered favorable for the party led by Zulkifli Hasan.

Political communication observer at Esa Unggul University, Jamiluddin Ritonga, said that if Ridwan Kamil joined, there would be many benefits for PAN. The reason is that some West Java residents who have supported the man who is familiarly called Kang Emil actually have the opportunity to switch to PAN. "They will change their choice of where Ridwan Kamil is anchored. Some of the younger generation also admire Ridwan Kamil. They also have the opportunity to become PAN supporters," Jamiluddin said in a statement received by VOI, Wednesday, October 13.

If some residents of West Java and some of the younger generation support Ridwan Kamil, he continued, it will certainly increase the electability of PAN. Although the increase in PAN's electability is not expected to be significant because the residents of West Java and some of the other younger generation may not follow Ridwan Kamil. "They really admire Ridwan Kamil but not for PAN. Therefore, they are likely to look for other figures who are in line with their ideals," he explained.

Jamiluddin said that Ridwan Kamil would have more to lose if he joined PAN because most of his supporters would flee. According to him, this does not seem to be comparable to the political gains that Ridwan Kamil received from PAN.

"PAN can indeed be a boat for Ridwan Kamil in the 2024 presidential election. However, PAN's vote acquisition in the 2019 legislative election is relatively small to be able to carry Ridwan Kamil as a presidential candidate," explained Jamiluddin.

Therefore, he added, it is unlikely that PAN can carry Ridwan Kamil as a presidential candidate. Meanwhile, other parties certainly find it difficult to form a coalition with PAN just to make Ridwan Kamil a presidential candidate. The reason, he said, was that Ridwan Kamil's electability was not too good when compared to Prabowo Subianto, Anies Baswedan, and Ganjar Pranowo. This will happen if PAN is able to lobby other parties to form a coalition.

"Therefore, it is better for Ridwan Kamil to move closer to another party whose vote in the 2019 legislative election is greater than PAN. This party has greater political bargaining power to lead Ridwan Kamil to become a presidential candidate," said Jamiluddin. Previously, West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil, claimed to be open to running in the 2024 presidential election contestation. He stated that he was ready to run if there was an open door from a political party that would support him. "So in 2024, where my destiny is to pick me up, it won't be a problem. But if there is an open door, for example from PAN, I'll say bismillah," said Ridwan Kamil at the National Workshop on the National Mandate Party (PAN) in Bali, Tuesday, October 5. The man who is familiarly called Kang Emil recounted, when he was destined to become the Governor of West Java. He said that being a leader is worship so he is waiting for God's will.

"So I'm the Governor of West Java because God wants, God will stop it because God wants it," said Emil.