Party prioritizes cadres, Saraswati and Eko Patrio enliven the DKI Jakarta gubernatorial election exchange

A number of names, such as Ahmed Zaki, Ida Fauziah, Saraswati, Zita Anjani, and Eko Patrio, enlivened the Jakarta gubernatorial election market.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO (KUM)

The flag of the National Mandate Party was hoisted on the elevated bridge of Jatibaru Raya Road in Jakarta to liven up the 5th National Working Meeting of PAN 2019 on Saturday (7/12/2019).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The 2024 DKI Jakarta Regional Head Election market is getting hotter three months before the registration of candidates for governor and deputy governor of the province. Not only exploring coalition opportunities, political parties are also starting to offer their best cadres to be nominated as governor and deputy governor of DKI Jakarta. A number of names, starting from Ahmed Zaki Iskandar, Ida Fauziyah, Rahayu Saraswati, Zita Anjani, to Eko Patrio, are being predicted by the party each to be promoted in the DKI Jakarta Pilkada.

Secretary General of the National Mandate Party (PAN) Eddy Soeparno, when contacted, Sunday (5/5/2024), revealed that PAN is currently opening communication with all political parties to face the Jakarta Pilkada 2024. However, PAN continues to prioritize cooperation discussions with parties in the Advanced Indonesia Coalition (KIM), which in the last presidential election both supported Prabowo Suboanto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

KIM consists of nine political parties, namely Gerindra Party, Golkar Party, Democratic Party, PAN, Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), and Crescent Star Party (PBB). In addition, there are also Gelora Party, Garuda Party, and Just and Prosperous People's Party (Prima).

"We will prioritize the Advanced Indonesia Coalition to partner with the coalition in nominating regional head candidates in the Jakarta Pilkada," said Eddy.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Secretary General of PAN, Eddy Soeparno, arrived for a consolidation meeting of political party secretary generals supporting presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto at the headquarters of the Golkar Party in Jakarta on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, in the evening.

The political cooperation talks were initiated because the National Mandate Party (PAN) could not field its own candidates for governor and deputy governor of DKI Jakarta. PAN is estimated to only have 10 seats or 9.4 percent of the 106 seats in the Regional Representative Council of DKI Jakarta. However, Law Number 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 Representative Council or 25 percent of valid votes to be able to nominate candidates for governor and deputy governor.

Although prioritizing KIM, PAN still opens up communication as much as possible with other political parties, including opposing coalition parties during the presidential election. The decision to form a coalition will also be determined based on an agreement regarding the candidate that is put forward because PAN also offers its cadres to run in the Jakarta regional elections.

According to Eddy, a number of members who will be offered include the Chairman of the PAN Regional Leadership Council in Jakarta, Eko Patrio, and the Deputy Chairman of the Jakarta Regional Council from PAN, Zita Anjani. These two members are considered to have the potential to lead Jakarta.

For DKI Jakarta, we will not lack cadres. We have Mas Eko Patrio, Miss Zita Anjani.

"Yes, for Jakarta Province, we will not lack cadres. We have Mas Eko Patrio, Mbak Zita Anjani, among others who currently understand the conditions in Jakarta," he said.

Similar to PAN, although it cannot nominate its own candidate for governor and deputy governor, Gerindra Party also prioritizes its cadres to be proposed as candidates in the Jakarta gubernatorial election. Vice Chairman of Gerindra Party, Rahayu Saraswati, revealed that there are already some favored cadres to run in the Jakarta gubernatorial election.

Saraswati acknowledges that she is one of the favored names to become a candidate for the Governor of DKI Jakarta. However, she leaves the decision of candidacy entirely to the Gerindra Chairman, Prabowo Subianto.

FAJAR RAMADHAN

Candidate for the Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), Rahayu Saraswati Djojohadikusumo.

Regarding the coalition to face the Jakarta regional elections, Saraswati stated that political parties are still communicating with each other. However, she declined to give more details. "This is not my responsibility, but I am sure party leaders who are tasked with communicating with other parties are currently doing so in preparation for the regional elections," she said.

Other political parties that also offer their cadres include Golkar. The party led by Airlangga Hartarto offers former Regent of Tangerang Ahmed Zaki Iskandar as a candidate for Jakarta governor. Currently, Zaki has also registered himself as a potential candidate for governor with the National Awakening Party (PKB). However, PKB also has a favored candidate, namely Minister of Manpower Ida Fauziah.

Also read: Prospective Regional Head Candidates Start Lobbying to Build Coalitions

Zaki conveyed that in order to face the Jakarta Gubernatorial Election, Golkar must form a coalition with other parties in order to meet the minimum requirement of 22 seats in the Jakarta Regional House of Representatives (DPRD). Currently, Golkar only has 10 seats in the DPRD of Jakarta. Golkar is ready to collaborate with any party in facing the Jakarta regional election.