Rano Karno and Airin Aim for Banten Regional Election Tickets from PDI-P

Three former regional heads, namely Rano Karno, Airin and Dimyati, registered as candidates for Banten governor from the PDI-P.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

The Chairperson of the Central Leadership of the Golkar Party Women's Unity Unit, Airin Rachmi Diany, also joined the entourage led by the Secretary General of the Golkar Party, Lodewijk Freidich Paulus, in visiting the General Elections Commission (KPU) office in Jakarta on Sunday (14/5/2023).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Several former regional leaders have started to hunt for tickets to be able to run again in the 2024 Regional Head Election. Some have already managed to secure support, while others have just applied as prospective regional head candidates to several political parties.

Former regional heads who are currently hunting for regional head election tickets (pilkada) include former Governor of Banten Rano Karno, former Mayor of South Tangerang Airin Rachmi Diany, and former Pandeglang Regent A Dimyati Natasukumah. The three of them have both taken the registration form as a candidate for governor of Banten to the DPD of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Banten.

The Chairman of the Election Campaign Body (Bappilu) of the PDI-P Regional Leadership Council in Banten, Muhlis, when contacted from Jakarta on Tuesday (30/4/2024), revealed that up to the last day of registration form taking for prospective governor candidates in Banten, there were already six figures who had taken the form. Five for the prospective governor candidate (cagub) and another one for the prospective deputy governor candidate (cawagub).

"Five people who have taken the gubernatorial candidate form are Airin Rachmi Diany, Eden Gunawan, Dimyati Natakusumah, Ratu Ageng Ekawati, and Rano Karno. For the deputy governor candidate, there is Ade Sumardi who took the form," said Muhlis, who leads the team for gathering potential candidates for regional heads from the PDI-P party in Banten.

ALIF ICHWAN

Former Banten Governor Rano Karno

In accordance with the schedule that has been established, the figures were asked to return the registration forms no later than May 5th, 2024. However, according to Muhlis, Airin, and Dimyati, they will return the forms to the PDI-P Banten DPD on Wednesday, May 1st, 2024.

Three out of five figures who intend to participate in the screening process for the candidate for Governor of Banten are former regional leaders. Airin is a former Mayor of South Tangerang, Dimyati is a former Regent of Pandeglang who is now a member of the Justice and Prosperity Party (F-PKS) faction in the DPR, and Rano Karno is a member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle faction (PDI-P DPR) who once served as Governor of Banten. Meanwhile, Eden is the Chairman of the Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals Association (ICMI) in Banten, while Ratu Ageng is the Daily Chairman of the Paguron Jalak Banten Nusantara Central Executive Board.

Thus, only Rano Karno comes from within PDI-P. Meanwhile, Airin is a cadre of the Golkar Party who had actually been designated as Banten's gubernatorial candidate from her party.

Five people who have taken the candidate form for gubernatorial elections are Airin Rachmi Diany, Eden Gunawan, Dimyati Natkusumah, Ratu Ageng Ekawati, and Rano Karno.

Muhlis revealed that PDI-P Banten opened registration for gubernatorial candidates because they cannot run with their own candidate for governor and deputy governor. PDI-P only obtained 14 out of 100 seats in the Banten Regional Council, while Law No. 10 of 2016 concerning the Election of Governors, Regents, and Mayors stipulates that political parties or coalitions of political parties must have a minimum of 20 percent of seats in the Regional Council or 25 percent of valid votes to be able to nominate a candidate for governor and deputy governor.

"The PDI-P party is currently lacking four seats to be able to nominate a candidate in the Banten governor election. That is why we are opening up recruitment," said Muhlis.

Similar to PDI-P, Golkar also cannot endorse its own candidate for governor and vice governor of Banten because it only has 14 seats in the Banten Regional Council. Whether they like it or not, Golkar has to form a coalition with other parties in order to participate in the gubernatorial election.

Also read: Golkar will support Airin in the 2024 Banten regional elections

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Motorists pass by a row of Golkar Party flags installed on Jalan Penjernihan 1, Jakarta, Sunday (5/11/2023).

According to Muhlis, the task of the DPD PDI-P Banten in the screening process is only to record and examine the files of the prospective candidates who register. Meanwhile, in-depth review of vision-mission and other matters is the responsibility of the PDI-P DPP.

According to Muhlis, one of the things that will be asked of potential candidates is their willingness to bring other political parties to join PDI-P in the Banten Regional Election. "When it comes to the DPP later on, the candidates will be asked whether they will bring coalition friends or not. That will also be a consideration in determining the figure to be endorsed. For example, Airin from Golkar has 14 seats in the Banten DPRD," he said.

Lobbies

Vice Chairman of Golkar Party, Nurul Arifin, stated that lobbying to build a coalition in the regional elections is not only done by political parties, but also by prospective regional heads. This can be seen from Airin's efforts in participating in the selection process for the PDI-P's prospective gubernatorial candidate in Banten.

"Coalitions are not always the same as presidential election coalitions. "It all depends on the suitability and dynamics of the region," he explained.

KOMPAS/WILLY MEDI CHRISTIAN NABABAN

Cadres and prospective legislative candidates attended the Regional Work Meeting III of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) in Serang, Banten on Sunday (10/9/2023).

The steps taken by Golkar cadres to participate in candidate selection by other parties are also considered valid for the formation of a coalition. The goal is realistic and objective, namely to achieve victory.

Meanwhile, besides Banten, the screening of potential regional heads by PDI-P is also being conducted in all regions, including DKI Jakarta. Until now, PDI-P is still building alliances with other political parties to nominate Jakarta's governor and deputy governor candidates.

Also read: Strengthening the Second Generation of Political Dynasties in Banten

The Secretary of DPD PDI-P Jakarta, Pantas Nainggolan, stated that political elites are still lobbying each other. This is because no political party in Jakarta can field their own candidate.

"Everyone needs to collaborate. The process is still closed lobbies. "We have opened (registration), but it's not yet clear," he said.