Is It True That There Will Be 'Breaking News' From Ridwan Kamil?

Ridwan Kamil's term of office as Governor of West Java has officially ended, will there really be "Breaking News" as he stated? (West Java Provincial Government Doc)

Ridwan Kamil, or who is familiarly called "Kang Emil," who has just handed over the position of Governor of West Java is in the spotlight in national politics. Many are speculating about his chances of becoming a vice presidential candidate (cawapres) who will accompany Ganjar Pranowo in the 2024 Presidential Election. So, what are his chances regarding this speculation?

Ridwan Kamil admitted that he had actively maintained communication and friendship with Ganjar Pranowo. Even more interesting, several key figures from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), the party that nominated Ganjar as presidential candidate (capres), have stated that they are considering the opportunity for Ridwan Kamil to become Ganjar Pranowo's companion. It is known that Kang Emil also held a closed meeting with the General Chair of PDIP, Megawati Sukarnoputri. This is not a trivial matter, considering the importance of building a solid coalition in Indonesian politics. Ganjar Pranowo, who has high popularity in Central Java, together with Ridwan Kamil, who is known as the innovative governor of West Java, has the potential to create a strong partnership.

One of Ridwan Kamil's main assets is his significant political influence in West Java. This province is one of the largest sources of votes in the presidential election, and the support of a governor who is considered successful in leading this province will be very valuable. Not only that, Ridwan Kamil also won the 2018 West Java Regional Election, which further confirmed his popularity.

However, we must not ignore the challenges that Ridwan Kamil may face. One of them is a lack of national political experience. In the world of national politics, competitors will include figures who have been involved in Indonesian politics for a long time and have strong networks. Political decisions are also often influenced by more complex and strategic considerations.

Apart from that, we cannot rule out the possibility of intense competition in the search for the vice presidential position. There are several other candidates who have also emerged as potential candidates, such as Sandiaga Uno who is being promoted by PPP.

Ridwan Kamil's chances as a vice presidential candidate (cawapres) in the 2024 Presidential Election also really depend on the response from the Golkar Party, the party he belongs to, which is on the other side, aka not supporting Ganjar Pranowo. Currently, the Golkar Party is involved in the Advanced Indonesia Coalition (KIM) which is nominating Prabowo Subianto as a presidential candidate (capres), together with the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the Gerindra Party. The General Chair of the Golkar Party DPP, Airlangga Hartarto, even clarified that there had been no discussion regarding Ridwan Kamil as a potential vice presidential candidate (cawapres) for Ganjar Pranowo.

In this context, Ridwan Kamil's statement indicating that there will be "breaking news" next week is a point of attention. Indeed, this statement has multiple interpretations, but this is a sign that his decision to be involved in the national contestation will be carefully considered. In politics, all possibilities are always open.

It could be said that Ridwan Kamil's potential as Ganjar Pranowo's vice presidential candidate is indeed interesting. West Java has a significant voice and could be a significant addition to Ganjar Pranowo. However, despite having advantages in popularity and political influence in West Java, Ridwan Kamil is also faced with a number of challenges, including intense competition. In the world of politics which is often full of plot twists, it all really depends on how Kang Emil manages his potential and whether he will take big steps on the national political stage.