As Alternative Presidential Candidate Based On Kompas R&D, Ridwan Kamil Is Considered Capable To Boost Golkar's Young Voters

JAKARTA - Kompas Research and Development released the results of a survey regarding the alternative presidential candidates that the public is most interested in. From the survey conducted in January 2023, West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil (RK) received the highest electability with 22.7 percent.

A political observer from Trunojoyo University, Surokim Abdussalam, considered Ridwan Kamil's increase in votes to be very surprising even though it was still in line with the political trend which tends toward young people.

"Surprisingly, Mr. RK's electability rate has actually increased significantly and is quite surprising. This is in line with the political trend which is getting younger and more egalitarian, the tendency to choose young, creative figures and close netizens is becoming more significant," said Surokim to reporters, Thursday, February 23.

Surokim said Ridwan Kamil, who joined Golkar last January, was considered capable of meeting the needs of young people, so he was accepted among them. In addition, RK's professional background, family, and political career have become a magnet for the young public.

"It could be that Mr. RK is also not too elitist and the people need alternative candidates who are close to them," he said.

Ridwan Kamil, according to him, is also seen as having the courage to speak out regarding the 2024 Election. Apart from that, RK is also seen as a key figure in West Java, which has many constituencies.

"Moreover, recently Mr. RK has also dared to speak up and is willing to run for the presidential election, which could also increase Mr. RK's choices. Plus, West Java's voter base is also significant in the national constellation," said Surokim.

Therefore, Surokim assessed that Ridwan Kamil could be used by Golkar to boost the party's votes among young voters.

"As a new cadre with potential, of course, Golkar will challenge RK, the extent of his electability and contribution to the party," he concluded.

Previously, in the Kompas R & D survey for the January 2023 period, a series of other figures appeared who were deemed worthy of being supported as candidates apart from the three ruling figures on the electability board, namely Ganjar Pranowo, Prabowo Subianto, and Anies Baswedan.

Other names that appeared included the Governor of West Java Ridwan Kamil, Menparekraf Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, General Chair of the Democratic Party Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, Minister of BUMN Erick Thohir to Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini.

Of these names, Ridwan Kamil is in the top position as an alternative presidential candidate. The man who is familiarly called RK or Kang Emil won an electability rate of 22.7 percent and is far from other alternative presidential candidates.

While the second position is occupied by Sandiaga with 7.3 percent electability and Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono with 5.8 percent.

Kompas Research and Development said that RK received a significant transfer of support from supporters of Anies, Ganjar, and Prabowo in his election scheme as an alternative figure.

"The rise of Ridwan Kamil's figure as an alternative presidential candidate is also in accordance with his success in maintaining electability in the fourth position which continues to overshadow the top three potential presidential candidates," wrote Kompas Research and Development, Thursday, February 23.

The results of the Kompas R&D poll also showed three names that received the highest electability to become Anies Baswedan's vice-presidential candidate. The three names are Ganjar Pranowo, Sandiaga Uno and Ridwan Kamil

"In the biggest nominations, there are at least three figures with the highest electability, namely Ganjar, Sandi, and Kamil," wrote Kompas Research and Development.