Responding To The Voice Direction Of NU Kala PKB In A Coalition With Gerindra

Photo via Twitter Prabowo Subianto

The coalition formed by Gerindra and PKB is one of the coalitions that can declare the presidential-vice presidential candidate pair in 2024. Coalition with PKB is also one of Gerindra's efforts to win Prabowo Subianto in 2024 because of the voter base that is synonymous with Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).

However, will the majority of NU votes really lead to the Gerindra Coalition and PKB? Algebraic Executive Director Arifki Chaniago assessed that Prabowo had several possibilities to form a coalition with PKB. First, Prabowo's voter base can be widened to middle or moderate voters. Because in the two 2014 and 2019 categories of supporters of the Gerindra chairman are in the right row. "But in the 2024 presidential election, voters who support Prabowo in 2014 and 2019 are likely to be divided into Anies Baswedan," said Arifki in Jakarta, Monday, November 14. Second, Prabowo's efforts to withdraw NU votes by forming a coalition with PKB did not directly become a 'noise'. The reason is, PBNU has expressed an attitude of not being part of any party several times. "This means that NU does not necessarily have the same attitude as PKB towards presidential candidates in 2024," said Arifki. Third, the proximity of NU residents to Gerindra also needs to be tested. So that the PKB's concerns will not be much interesting to NU's vote, it can be answered by Gerindra. If organizationally build networks with NU groups.

"This PKB is certainly attractive to Gerindra, especially to attract moderate voters who have many NU backgrounds. The challenge is how much NU can be drawn by Prabowo to choose it in 2024? The elite PBNU policy which states that NU is not identical to any party certainly weakens PKB's bargaining power politically or voters," explained Arifki.

From these various concerns, according to Arifki, Gerindra should take up the bargaining power with NU to maintain the impossibility of weak political support to PKB. So that the Gerindra-PKB coalition is not in vain to seize the NU voters as much as possible. "With the neutralness of PBNU against all political parties, other parties have the possibility to attract NU voters, such as PPP, PDIP, and Golkar, which have been the place for NU cadres who do not join PKB," he explained.

Arifki emphasized that politics is looking for possibilities above the impossibility. Of the various interests that provide benefits for Gerindra to form a coalition with PKB, according to him, Cak Imin personally also wants to attract Prabowo's effect on his party.

However, he said, the fight was how interesting Prabowo's image was for NU voters, if for example there were other figures such as Khofifah Indar Parawansa who might run as vice presidential candidate in 2024.

PKB may benefit if it comes to a coalition with Gerindra, especially since Cak Imin gets a position as vice presidential candidate. However, the emergence of Khofifah's name will certainly be detrimental to Prabowo or Gerindra because the NU base is also divided in determining the presidential and vice presidential candidates," he said. "Moreover, the attitude of PBNU which does not state partiality to one of the presidential candidates parties makes it more difficult for Cak Imin's bargaining power to claim NU voters as the basis for running as vice presidential candidates," concluded Arifki.