Sandiaga Ready To Run For The 2024 Presidential Election, Observer: Gerindra Gelisah Support 'Emak-Emak' To Prabowo Reduces

Sandiaga Uno was asked to take a photo with moms when celebrating Indonesia's independence day on August 17, 2018. (Twitter @sandiuno)

JAKARTA - Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf) Sandiaga Uno stated that he was ready to be supported by political parties (political parties) to participate in the 2024 presidential election. Sandiaga conveyed this during a meeting with the Yogyakarta PPP DPW Management, Tuesday, August 30 evening.

Sandi's statement then disturbed the elite and Gerindra Party cadres. Some even stated that Sandi should resign from the party created by the Minister of Defense as well as the General Chair of the Gerindra Party, Prabowo Subianto.

Political communication observer at Esa Unggul University, Jamiluddin Ritonga, assessed that this response indicated the anxiety of Gerindra cadres over Sandi's maneuvers. According to him, Sandi's maneuver can prevent Prabowo Subianto from winning the 2024 presidential election contestation.

"The crisis is natural because in the 2019 presidential election, many mothers and millennials are very fanatical in supporting Sandi. If Sandi participates in the 2024 presidential election contestation, the majority of the support for mothers and millennials will remain with him," said Jamiluddin, Friday, September 2.

This, he continued, would certainly reduce support for Prabowo. In fact, for Gerindra, the 2024 presidential election is the last chance for Prabowo to hold his dream of becoming president.

"So, if Sandi has a presidential or vice presidential candidate carried by another party, then Prabowo's chances of winning will be smaller. This is certainly not what Gerindra wants, including of course Prabowo himself," he said.

According to him, Sandi does have a selling point to become a presidential or vice presidential candidate. The deputy chairman of the Gerindra Advisory Council, called Jamiluddin, has quite good electability and is supported by volunteers spread across the country.

"Even the network he formed in the 2019 presidential election, just needs to be turned on. A large network spread throughout Indonesia is a big power and capital for Sandi to participate in the 2024 presidential election," he said.

In addition, said Jamiluddin, Sandi also has a large capital to finance his candidacy. He will not depend on the owners of the capital or oligarchy to finance his campaign.

"That way, if he is elected president or vice president, it will be difficult to dictate by the owner of capital or oligarchy," he said.

With a fairly good electability capital and large capital, Jamiluddin considers it natural for other political parties to look at it. Sandi just has to choose which political party to use as his boat.

"The problem is, is Sandi really serious about accepting the offer of the Yogyakarta PPP DPW? I hope it still needs to be re-confirmed to him," he said.

Because, he added, so far Sandi has not been a jumping flea politician. Sandi, according to him, includes politicians who uphold ethics.

"So, if Sandi accepts an offer to become a presidential or vice presidential candidate from another political party, it could be because there is a problem in Gerindra. It seems that Gerindra internally needs to introspect before blaspheming Sandi. It is wiser than blaming others," said Jamiluddin.