Anies is predicted not to advance in the DKI Jakarta regional elections from the individual route

Popular figures, such as Anies Baswedan, are predicted to avoid running for regional elections via the individual route.

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI

During the 2017 Regional Elections, the Jakarta Elections Commission (KPU) put up billboards featuring the pictures of three pairs of governor and vice-governor candidates on Daan Mogot Road, West Jakarta, on Saturday (14/1/2017).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Figures who are predicted to run in the DKI Jakarta Pilkada, including Anies Rasyid Baswedan is expected to avoid the independent route. Apart from having to meet the minimum support requirements of 618,000 citizens, the costs required for the campaign and winning are also estimated to be quite large.

Observers of politics Nusa Bhakti Pledge, in Jakarta, Sunday (5/5/2024), said that taking part in regional head elections (pilkada) from an independent or individual route is more difficult than running through a party political. This situation also applies to those who will run in the DKI Jakarta Governor Election (Pilgub).

Independent candidates need the support of many citizens. The political costs incurred are also relatively high because currently voters tend to be pragmatic or expect financial compensation in the election process.

Also read: Nomination Requirements Increasingly Tough, Individual Route in 2024 Pilkada Predicted to be Low in Interest

Law Number 10 of 2016 on Regional Elections states that the requirement for a governor candidate to run as an independent in a province with a permanent voter list (DPT) of 0-2 million is to obtain a minimum of 10 percent support from the total number of permanent voters. For provinces with a DPT of 2 million to 6 million, the minimum support requirement is around 8.5 percent of the total number of permanent voters. Meanwhile, provinces with a total DPT of 6 million to 12 million people require independent candidates to have no less than 7.5 percent support. As for areas with the largest DPT of over 12 million, independent candidates must have 6.5 percent support.

The General Elections Commission (KPU) of Jakarta has set the number of voters registered for the 2024 election at 8,252,897. This means that individuals who wish to run independently will need the support of 7.5 percent or 618,000 citizens.

According to Ikrar, with this challenge, it is not easy to advance in the Jakarta regional election through independent channels. Therefore, popular figures, such as Anies Baswedan, are also predicted to avoid running in the election as independent candidates. Moreover, Anies has already gained support from political parties, namely Nasdem.

"Why progress through the individual route? "He (Anies) already has support from Nasdem," said Ikrar.

Aligned with Ikrar, Executive Director of Political Parameter Indonesia Adi Prayitno also doubts that Anies will run in the Jakarta gubernatorial election through the independent pathway. "If he does not receive support from a political party, it seems unlikely that Anies will run in the Jakarta election. Running independently is not an easy matter as it requires stamina, energy, and adequate political machinery," he said.

It is not easy to advance in the Jakarta Regional Election through the independent path. Therefore, popular figures, like Anies Baswedan, are also predicted to avoid running for the election through an independent path.

He gave an example of Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, who once collected a lot of ID cards to run as an independent candidate in the 2012 Jakarta gubernatorial election. However, Basuki, who was then a member of the Golkar Party faction in the DPR, failed to gather the minimum support from Jakarta residents. Nevertheless, in the end, the man commonly known as Ahok accepted the invitation from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and the Gerindra Party to be a candidate for deputy governor of Jakarta, running alongside gubernatorial candidate Joko Widodo. Jokowi-Ahok ultimately won the election held in two rounds.

Anies, based on the results of the 2024 election, has indeed gained a lot of support from the people of Jakarta. In DKI Jakarta, Anies who ran as the number 1 presidential candidate paired with Muhaimin Iskandar lost narrowly to the number 2 candidate pair, Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka. Anies-Muhaimin obtained 2,653,762 votes, while Prabowo-Gibran obtained 2,692,011 votes.

Nevertheless, Adi is not convinced that Anies will run as an independent candidate in the Jakarta gubernatorial election. Learning from the experience in the 2012 election, Ahok eventually chose to accept the invitations of political parties to be supported as a candidate for deputy governor.

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

Former presidential candidate number 1, Anies Baswedan at the PKS DPP office, Jakarta, Saturday (27/4/2024).

At the end of April, the Chairman of the Nasdem Party DPP, Willy Aditya, revealed that Anies Baswedan was a figure who was the main priority for Nasdem to be nominated as governor of DKI Jakarta in the 2024 regional elections. Even though Anies had already received the green light to advance in the regional elections, he is still reluctant to state his political steps. He said he wanted to rest first before taking political steps.

According to Ikrar, Anies has the freedom to decide whether to participate in the regional elections. "The issue is, he said he wants to take a break first. We don't know whether that means taking time to consider, taking a temporary break but still participating in the simultaneous regional elections," said Ikrar.