Political Parties Begin Electability Tests for Candidates for Governor of West Kalimantan

Political parties in West Kalimantan are testing the electability of regional head candidates for the 2024 regional elections through surveys.

DIREKTORAT PENGENDALIAN KEBAKARAN HUTAN DAN LAHAN KLHK

Manggala Agni, together with the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI), collaborate to extinguish fires in West Kalimantan. Forest fires have become one of the big challenges that must be minimized in their impact by the elected governor.

PONTIANAK, KOMPAS - Political parties in West Kalimantan are starting to test the electability of prospective candidates for regional elections in 2024 who have registered through surveys. However, the recruitment of regional leaders should also consider their competence and credibility in facing challenges.

The Deputy Chairman for Election Victory of the Regional Leadership Council (DPD) of the Golkar Party in West Kalimantan, who is also the Chairman of the Candidate Selection for Regional Head of the DPD Golkar West Kalimantan, Heri Mustamin, said on Tuesday (April 30, 2024) that the registration period had taken place from April 22-26, which also included the selection process.

There are two schemes for selecting candidates for Governor of West Kalimantan. First, the Golkar cadres who have been assigned. Second, additional mechanisms because there is a desire by other political parties to use Golkar's "boat" in the 2024 regional elections.

Also read: West Kalimantan Regional Election, Four Regional Figures Register with the Democratic Party

KORAMIL HULU GURUNG

The condition of flooding in Hulu Gurung District, Kapuas Hulu Regency, West Kalimantan, on Friday (1/5/2024). Flooding is still occurring and becoming a homework for the newly appointed governor.

In the assignment mechanism, there are five members of the Golkar Party cadre assigned, including the Chairman of the Deliberation Council of the Golkar Party Regional Leadership Council in West Kalimantan, who is also the incumbent Vice Governor of West Kalimantan, Ria Norsan.

Then, Deputy Chairperson of the West Kalimantan Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD) Prabasa Anantatur. Followed by Commission X member of the DPR, Adrianus Asia Sidot. In addition, the names of Ketapang Regent Martin Rantan and West Kalimantan DPRD member Suma Jenny were also proposed.

"The assignment given by the party depends on them. If they want to continue (in the 2024 Pilkada contest), it will be processed. However, it all depends on the survey results. The survey is currently underway for at least 21 days," said Heri.

KOMPAS/EMANUEL EDI SAPUTRA

Incumbent Governor of West Kalimantan Sutarmidji (wearing white shirt) submitted his registration form to run as a candidate for Governor of Kalbar in the 2024 Regional Elections to the Regional Leadership Board of the Democratic Party in West Kalimantan on Friday (5/4/2024).

As for those who go through additional mechanisms, there is the incumbent Governor of West Kalimantan, Sutarmidji, who wishes to use the Golkar "boat" in the 2024 regional elections. There are also some from the business community.

Both party assignments and additional tasks will be surveyed. After the survey, it will be evaluated whether the survey results are considered good or not, and if they will continue with running for the position of West Kalimantan governor.

The candidates, both those assigned by political parties and additional ones, will later build coalitions with other parties. This is because in the West Kalimantan Regional Council, Golkar has nine seats and therefore must form a coalition. Institutionally, Golkar will also establish communication to form a coalition with other political parties.

Recruitment of regional head candidates should also consider a person's competence and credibility in facing challenges.

YAYASAN MADANI BERKELANJUTAN

Comparison data on the extent of oil palm plantations and poverty in five major districts in West Kalimantan. The source is the Sustainable Civil Society Foundation, dated April 8, 2020, presented during a virtual discussion.

The selection of candidates for governor of West Kalimantan has also been carried out by other political parties, for example the DPD PDI-P West Kalimantan which carried out the selection of candidates for governor and deputy governor of West Kalimantan on April 15-30. Based on data collected by Kompas at the DPD PDI-P West Kalimantan Office, Tuesday (30/4/2024), a number of names have submitted registration forms as candidates for governor of West Kalimantan.

One of them is the Chairman of the West Kalimantan PDI-P Regional Council, Lasarus. Outside of PDI-P cadre, there are incumbent West Kalimantan Governor Sutarmidji, and also the regent of Kubu Raya for the 2018-2023 period, Muda Mahendrawan.

Previously, the Regional Representative Council of the Democratic Party in West Kalimantan also selected gubernatorial candidates for West Kalimantan. As a result, four names have officially registered, including incumbent Governor Sutarmidji.

Next, the incumbent Vice Governor of West Kalimantan Ria Norsan and the Regent of Kubu Raya for the 2018-2023 period, Muda Mahendrawan. Then, from the Democratic Party cadre, there is the Head of the Democratic Party's Strategic Communication Agency, Herzaky Mahendra Putra.

The Chairman of the Election Winning Body of the Democratic Party in West Kalimantan, Andi Aswad, said that the prospective governor candidates in West Kalimantan will be given a task letter to build a coalition with other political parties.

Also read: Investment Has Not Completely Changed the Portrait of Poverty in West Kalimantan

KOMPAS/A HANDOKO

The Kapuas River divides Pontianak City, West Kalimantan. The bridge that crosses it is an important piece of infrastructure for Pontianak and West Kalimantan.

Jumadi, a lecturer at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at Tanjungpura University in Pontianak, stated that in recruiting candidates for regional leaders, competence and credibility in facing challenges should also be considered. This is where political parties play a role in recruitment, not only based on survey results, although survey results are also taken into consideration.

Regarding coalitions, the political situation at the national level is certainly different from the strength at the local level. Jumadi assesses that there may be coalitions formed in the upcoming regional elections that do not align with the coalitions formed during the previous presidential election.

Because it involves local political constellations, especially related to figures. This concerns local elites. It is not certain that members of a certain party will advance because their internal figures are deemed uncompetitive.