Akbar Tandjung's Support For Anies Can 'Goyang' Golkar Internal Solidity And KIB

United Indonesia Coalition aka KIB. (Antara)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Honorary Council of the Golkar Party DPP Tandjung admitted to supporting Anies Baswedan as a presidential candidate (candidate) in the 2024 Presidential Election (Pilpres). According to Akbar, Anies is one of the candidates for a strong presidential candidate in the 2024 presidential election.

Political communication observer at Esa Unggul University, Jamiluddin Ritonga, assessed that Akbar's support for Anies in an open manner could shake solidity within the Golkar Party.

Jamiluddin explained the first reason why the cohesive party bearing the banyan tree could shake because of Akbar Tandjung's character in Golkar. He considered that Akbar still had a strong influence on the grassroots of the banyan party.

"Therefore, Akbar's support for Anies can break the voice of support within Golkar. Some of the supporters of Akbar in Golkar, may turn their votes to Anies," said Jamiluddin in Jakarta, Thursday, October 6.

The next argument, according to Jamiluddin, is that Golkar's internal part no longer supports the General Chairperson Airlangga Hartarto to become the 2024 presidential candidate.

If Akbar turns away, he said, his loyalists could frame Airlangga's support so that it is disallowed to become a presidential candidate from Golkar.

"The opportunity is very open because Airlangga's electability has not increased. With current electability, it is only natural that some Golkar cadres are pessimistic and force Ganjar to become a presidential candidate," said Jamiluddin.

According to Jamiluddin, this momentum could be used by Akbar supporters to encourage Rapimnas to be held again so that they can decide on other names for presidential candidates other than Airlangga.

Impact on the Coalition

In addition, said Jamiluddin, if Akbar Tandjung really supports Anies in the five-year democratic party, the impact will be felt in the United Indonesia Coalition (KIB). PAN and PPP as Golkar coalition partners may doubt Airlangga's name in the KIB presidential candidate exchange.

"The same thing seems to be happening to PAN and PPP. There are also many grassroots in these two parties who want Anies to become a presidential candidate," he said.

The aftermath of Akbar's alignment with Anies in the presidential can potentially be felt in the internal PAN and PPP.

In a situation where solidity is starting to falter, Jamiluddin said it was possible that the PAN and PPP elites did not support candidates for presidential candidates from within the coalition but sided with Anies. He described the potential as 'fire in the husks'.

"If that happens, the chance of AEFI faltering will be very big. It could be that KIB is still there, but the inside is porous because some Golkar, PAN, and PPP cadres have their hearts in Anies. It will make KIB exist but it doesn't exist," said Jamiluddin.

Akbar Tandjung issued a statement supporting Anies as Presidential Candidate for 2024 in the relocation of Momunen 66 which was inaugurated by the Governor of DKI Jakarta. The event was held at Menteng Park, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday 5 October.

Not long after, the Deputy General Chairperson (Waketum) of the Golkar Party DPP Ahmad Doli Kurnia Tandjung straightened Akbar's statement.

According to Doli, Akbar's statement of support for Anies was only a normative statement as a congratulation because NasDem had just carried it as a presidential candidate.

Doli added that Akbar's statement was not specific in referring to the 2024 presidential election. Because, Akbar said the sentence "also supports him (Anies Baswedan)" which means aksplit because he attended an event that Anies also visited.

This means, continued Doli, that Akbar Tandjung is still consistent in holding the results of the National Conference and the Golkar Rapimnas which decided Airlangga Hartarto as the 2024 presidential candidate.

Actually, it's just a normative statement. Talking about the response of a figure in response to a person's candidacy. It's only like saying congratulations (to Anies)," said Doli in a statement, Wednesday, October 5.