Political Travel Ridwan Kamil To Join Golkar, A Party That Does Not Support Him In The West Java Gubernatorial Election

YOGYAKARTA - Governor of West Java (Jabar) Ridwan Kamil has made a decision regarding the continuation of his Political Career. He joined Golkar, a party that did not support him in the 2018 West Java gubernatorial election (Pilgub). So, what is Ridwan Kamil's political journey like?

Kang Emil's decision, the West Java Governor's nickname, has become a new chapter in his political journey.

The man who was born in Bandung, October 4, 1971, started his political career as Mayor of Bandung for the 2013-2018 period.

In the 2013 Bandung Pilwakot, Ridwan Kamil ran with Oded M Danial.

Ridwan Kamil ran with Oded M Danial by Gerindra and PKS. Their candidacy is supported by two parties, namely Gerindra and PKS. Apart from the two parties, Ridwan Kamil-Oded M Danial is also supported by 23 non-parlement parties.

Initially, Gerindra wanted to form a coalition with Golkar. However, on its way, Prabowo Subianto's party chose to move on its own and carry Ridwan Kamil.

Meanwhile, Golkar participated in the Bandung Pilwakot contestation by carrying out its own cadre, namely MQ Iswara.

The results of the 2013 Bandung Pilwakot stated that Ridwan Kamil-Oded M Danial won a landslide victory over seven other pairs by pocketing 45.24 percent of the votes.

However, Ridwan Kamil-Oded's victory was rejected by six other pairs of candidates and filed a lawsuit with the Constitutional Court (MK).

The petitioners suspect Ridwan Kamil-Oded has cheated and carried out a dark campaign during the Pilwakot. This allegation is based on the discovery of a damaged voice.

However, the lawsuit was rejected by the Constitutional Court. The Constitutional Court's decision also strengthens Ridwan Kamil as the elected Mayor of Bandung for the 2013-2018 period.

Then, on September 16, 2013, Ridwan Kamil and Oded M Danial were officially appointed as Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Bandung. They were appointed by Ahmad Heryawan who at that time served as Governor of West Java.

After Ridwan Kamil's term of office was over, he ran as a candidate for governor in the 2018 West Java gubernatorial election. Kang Emil was paired with the Rushanul Ulum Law and was supported by four parties, including the United Development Party (PPP), the National Awakening Party (PKB), the Hanura Party and the NasDem Party.

Originally, there was another party that was willing to provide support to Ridwan Kamil in the West Java gubernatorial election, namely Golkar. However, this banyan party requires Daniel Muttaqien as a candidate for deputy governor.

Because Kang Emil never appointed Daniel as Cagub, Golkar decided to withdraw his support and form a coalition with PDIP to carry Deddy Mizwar-Dedi Mulyadi.

Meanwhile, Deddy Mizwar-Dedi Mulyadi's match bagged 25.77 percent of the votes and the Tubagus Hasanuddin-Anton Charliyan pair got 12.62 percent of the votes.

Towards the end of the term of office of the Governor of Java Bawas, Ridwan Kamil joined the Golkar Party. He officially wore a yellow suit on Wednesday, January 18, 2023.

At least, there are three reasons Ridwan Kamil joined Golkar. One of them is the factor of his closeness to Airlangga Hartarto.

"Why the Golkar party? The first one is a very strong party as a symbol of the central party, a Pancasila party, an open party, so this is my interest," said Ridwan Kamil at the Golkar Party DPP Office, Wednesday, January 18, referring to VOI.

Second, he continued, the Golkar Party is filled with quality individuals.

"The long history of Golkar shows that the institution is very honorable. So that it is small, the progress is indeed from its individuals. So if this individual is of high quality, then the one who benefits is Indonesia," he said.

Third, continued Kang Emil, because of his close relationship with the General Chair of the Golkar Party, Airlangga Hartarto.

"The communication relationship with Pak Airlangga is very, very good, we often discuss economic matters as his capacity in the cabinet, as well as personal matters," he said.

This is information about Ridwan Kamil's political journey that has been anchored to the Golkar Party, a party that previously did not support him in the 2018 West Java gubernatorial election.