Closer To KIB, Ridwan Kamil Is Considered Suitable To Be Vice President

Ridwan Kamil/ Antara

JAKARTA - West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil met with the Chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas) on Sunday, May 15, yesterday. Ridwan Kamil also held a meeting with Golkar General Chair Airlangga Hartarto, allegedly talking about the United Indonesia Coalition (KIB). So, will Ridwan Kamil be promoted as a presidential candidate (candidate) or vice presidential candidate (cawapres)? Political observer and executive director of the Indonesia Public Institute (IPI), Karyono Wibowo, believes that Ridwan Kamil is more suitable to be promoted as vice president. The reason is that the electability of the man who is familiarly called Kang Emil is superior to the vice presidential position than the presidential candidate.

"Judging from the interests of the coalition, perhaps the ideal candidate for the vice president is. Several surveys have seen that the RK is strong in the vice presidential position," Karyono told VOI, Tuesday, May 17.

In fact, he continued, the electability of RK alias Ridwan Kamil also outperformed the three general chairmen of the political parties in the United Indonesia Coalition. However, RK does not have a political party and is still far from the electability of presidential candidates such as Prabowo Subianto and Ganjar Pranowo.

"RK doesn't have a political party and he's not a political party cadre. Unless RK's electability is high on par with Prabowo or Ganjar, maybe it could be pushed by a presidential candidate," explained Karyono. Moreover, said Karyono, PPP has been one of Ridwan's supporters since the 2018 West Java Regional Head Election. Meanwhile, PPP, PAN and Golkar do not yet have internal party figures to be promoted as candidates for vice presidential candidate in 2024.

"There is a good relationship between PPP and RK which can later be realized. Because they are a coalition in West Java, it is a positive asset," said Karyono.

Even so, Karyono assesses that the dynamics of the 2024 presidential election are still fluid and dynamic. So that candidates can still experience changes.

"All of the endorsement of presidential candidates from political parties is still liquid, it is still very possible to change," he concluded.