If Ridwan Kamil Joins, Golkar's Taktics In The 2024 Presidential Election Will Change

West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil attended the 58th Anniversary of the Golkar Party in Jiexpo, Kemayoran, Jakarta, Friday, October 21, 2022 night. (Between-Through SK)

Political observer from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) Aisah Putri Budiatri assessed that Ridwan Kamil's plan to join a political party could affect the political map ahead of the 2024 presidential election.

"I think Kang Emil's steps to enter the party can certainly mean a lot, including related to the 2024 political map," said Puput in Jakarta, Wednesday, November 30.

He explained that if Ridwan Kamil decided to join the Golkar Party, then this could change the political tactics of the party bearing the banyan symbol in facing the 2024 presidential election.

When he decided to become a Golkar cadre, said Puput, it was certain that the man who is familiarly called RK or Kang Emil intended to continue his career in politics.

"In ideal conditions, RK should increase the political career of the Governor of West Java to a higher and or more strategic political career. And in this context, there are only 3 higher positions or higher dissociations, namely being president, vice president or governor of DKI Jakarta," said Puput.

Puput assessed that there is a potential for Ridwan Kamil to be paired as a vice presidential candidate (cawapres) accompanying the General Chairperson of Golkar Airlangga Hartarto. This could happen, if Golkar had already obtained the blessing of PPP and PAN as partners in the United Indonesia Coalition (KIB).

"If RK enters Golkar and is projected to become a candidate for the presidential election, then there is a potential for RK to be promoted as a vice presidential candidate to accompany Airlangga, with the context of Golkar also supported by other parties, in this case, KIB," he said.

In addition, Puput continued, Golkar could also change its strategy by only nominating Ridwan Kamil as a vice presidential candidate without Airlangga as its presidential candidate. This strategy is likely to be implemented, if it turns out to attract more interest from other parties to solidly form a coalition with Golkar in the 2024 presidential election.

"The RK will be the key for Golkar to become influential in the coalition because RK is a Golkar cadre, just like Jokowi used to be a party official for PDIP," said Puput.

Ridwan Kamil, he added, could also be positioned as Golkar's long-term political investment. Ridwan Kamil could be promoted to Golkar as a candidate for the Governor of DKI Jakarta in the upcoming Pilkada. Meanwhile, Airlangga remains a candidate in the presidential election.

"If this is done by Golkar, it means that Golkar is making a long-term political investment, because if RK wins in Jakarta, then Golkar will hold a strategic political area and in the next five years. RK can also become a leader in the future of Golkar and a presidential candidate," he concluded.