Eri Cahyadi-Armuji has the opportunity to advance again from PDI-P Surabaya

Surabaya incumbent Eri Cahyadi-Armuji has the opportunity to contest again after registering through PDI-P.

AGNES BENEDIKTA SWETTA BR PANDIA

Mayor of Surabaya Eri Cahyadi and Deputy Mayor of Surabaya Armuji at the inauguration Friday (26/2/2021).

SURABAYA, KOMPAS — Eri Cahyadi-Armuji became the first couple to register for Branch Leadership Council Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle Surabaya City, East Java, Thursday (2/5/2024). They want to win the mayor-deputy mayor election for Surabaya again.

Eri is Mayor of Surabaya, while Armuji is Deputy Mayor of Surabaya. This pair are PDI-P cadres who won the 2020 contest. Registration with PDI-P Surabaya confirms their commitment as cadres as well as their confidence in continuing their leadership.

Also read: Ahmad Dhani has the opportunity to fight incumbent Eri Cahyadi in the Surabaya regional elections

"With good intentions, we are starting the steps and stages to face the regional elections together with the people," said Eri after submitting a registration form at the PDI-P Surabaya Secretariat. The former Head of the Surabaya City Development Planning Agency will embrace other parties in the contest that will take place on November 27, 2024.

Eri continued, after the Eid al-Fitr on 1 Syawal 1445 Hijriah, he visited political parties for a friendly gathering and forgiveness. Eri received suggestions and criticisms for the development of the East Java capital. "We continue to communicate with other political parties, requesting registration forms, and will soon submit them," he said.

Also read: Bull Domination Betting in Surabaya

The political organization that is being courted are the owners of seats in the Surabaya City Parliament, aside from PDI-P and non-parliamentary parties. The seat holders include Partai Gerakan Indonesia Raya (Gerindra), Partai Golongan Karya (Golkar), Partai Kebangkitan Bangsa (PKB), Partai Amanat Nasional (PAN), Partai Persatuan Pembangunan (PPP), Partai Keadilan Sejahtera (PKS), Partai Nasional Demokrat (Nasdem), Partai Demokrat, and Partai Solidaritas Indonesia (PSI).

Armuji added that he asked for blessings from the people of Bumi Pahlawan so that they could complete government programs. The main thing is to reduce poverty, unemployment, stunting, improve education and health services and reduce the impact of floods. "We hope to again receive support and blessing from the residents," said the former Chairman of the Surabaya City DPRD and then Member of the East Java DPRD.

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA

Eri Cahyadi (left) and Armuj during the registration for the Surabaya's City Election at the Surabaya City KPU Office, Surabaya, East Java, on Friday (4/9/2020). Even though it has been prohibited, supporters still continue to parade while escorting their chosen mayoral candidate to the KPU Office. Eri Cahyadi and Armuji are supported by PDI-P and PSI in the voting on December 9, 2020.

The Chairman of PDI-P Surabaya, Dominikus Adi Sutarwijono, said that registration is every citizen's right to participate in the regional election. Although support is beginning to narrow down to Eri-Armuji, the official decision to register with the General Election Commission (KPU) is the responsibility of PDI-P Chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri.

"Registration is open to anyone," said Adi, also known as Awi, who holds the position of Chairman of the Surabaya City DPRD and was re-elected to parliament from the Surabaya 3 Electoral District (Wonocolo, Rungkut, Sukolilo, Tenggilis Mejoyo, Gunung Anyar, Mulyorejo, Bulak).

Also read: Eri Cahyadi-Armuji Elected Leader Pair

Separately, the Chairman of the PAN in Surabaya, Mahsun Djayadi, said that Eri-Armuji did come for a gathering and expressed their desire to register with the party. On the other hand, PAN is also currently open for registration. "Well, we'll see if Mas Eri and Cak Ji (Armuji) actually register or not," he said.

Political science lecturer at Airlangga University, Hari Fitrianto, said that there are no strong names being discussed for the upcoming regional head election except for the incumbent Eri-Armuji. Local political parties are still observing the national constellation after the presidential election and legislative election. "The situation is still moving towards a phase of balance and preparation for transition," he said.

KOMPAS/AMBROSIUS HARTO

The atmosphere of the presentation of the results of the opinion poll by the Surabaya Survey Center regarding the 2019 General Election and the 2020 Surabaya Mayor Election.

Political parties in the region, said Hari, have not been able to determine or propose a stance regarding candidates for the regional election as they are waiting for the central stance. On the other hand, the authority to decide on candidates is not in the region, but in the center. The Election Commission has also not opened registration.

"I may register today, but if the central board decides differently one day before the registration to the KPU, then it could be different. It means that submitting names is not a guarantee," said Hari.

Registration is the right of every citizen to participate in regional elections. Despite the increasing support for Eri-Armuji, the official decision to register with the General Elections Commission (KPU) is the responsibility of the chairperson of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, Megawati Soekarnoputri.

According to Hari, the party will also see to what extent the interests of Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka as president-vice president in the regional elections. This will determine the party's stance, including the candidates who will run. However, parties should start pushing for challengers to Eri-Armuji.

Some challenger names outside of PDI-P have a chance, such as the Deputy Chairperson of Surabaya DPRD from PKS Reni Astuti, Chairman of PKB Surabaya Musyafak Rouf, Chairman of the Surabaya Democratic Party and DPR member Lucy Kurniasari. In addition, there is the Chairman of Pro Jokowi Jatim Bayu Airlangga, who is also the son-in-law of former Governor Soekarwo, former Secretary of Surabaya Hendro Gunawan, musician Ahmad Dhani from Gerindra, Chairman of Gerindra Surabaya Cahyo Harjo Prakoso, and Chairman of Golkar Surabaya Arif Fathoni.