Observers Ask PDIP To Immediately Decide On A Presidential Candidate To End The Drama 'Bull Fight'

PDIP DPP Office (Photo Via ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Executive Director of Trias Politica Strategis Agung Baskoro assesses that the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) needs to immediately determine a presidential candidate (Capres) to be carried in the 2024 General Election.

This is to end the drama 'bullfighting' that has recently occurred internally within the PDIP, both regarding the rivalry in the nominations for the chairman of the DPR, Puan Maharani and the governor of Central Java, Ganjar Pranowo, as well as the issue of the estrangement of relations between Chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri and President Joko Widodo.

Although the intimacy between Megawati and Jokowi has been seen again in the last two meetings at the inauguration of the BPIP steering board, Tuesday, June 7, and the inauguration of the At-Taufiq Mosque, Wednesday, June 8. However, Agung assessed that there was no guarantee that the situation would not escalate again due to differences in attitudes regarding the 2024 presidential election.

Agung admits that the determination of the presidential candidate is the domain of the general chairman of the PDIP which has not yet been decided. But, according to him, the absence of a decision is an opportunity for Jokowi to participate in determining the presidential candidate from the white-nosed bull party.

"For President Jokowi, this is another directive for him to be involved indirectly by sending special signals to Ganjar through a meeting with Projo some time ago, or limited to giving approval to ministers or other candidates," Agung said in his statement in Jakarta. , Thursday, June 9th.

According to Agung, it is important that Jokowi convey this special signal to ensure that his main programs continue so that there is a legacy from his administration (legacy). Meanwhile, he said, Jokowi's blessing and support means a lot so that those who will fight in the 2024 presidential election do not face any obstacles.

On the other hand, continued Agung, Ganjar volunteer groups often maneuvered offside. They feel that the figure they support should automatically be promoted by PDIP because of the high electability factor, whereas the party that determines the presidential candidate is the party. Meanwhile, PDIP upholds the cadre process by making electability just a variable.

“On several occasions, bull cadres appeared to respond to the attitude of Volunteers Ganjar, including to Ganjar as a candidate. Starting from mere words criticizing his performance as governor to no longer inviting Ganjar to important PDIP events," Agung explained.

Agung views that this situation leaves Jokowi with a dilemma even though he last said that his relationship with Megawati is like a mother-daughter relationship. This was revealed by Jokowi when he met Megawati at the inauguration of the At-Taufiq Mosque.

Therefore, according to Agung, the emergence of Ganjar as a potential presidential candidate with Puan Maharani and several other cadres is a blessing that proves the PDIP regeneration is going well.

"However, this could be a disaster if Ganjar or Puan continue to show differences in attitudes directly or indirectly through the attitudes of their supporters in public," he concluded.