Optimistic about winning, West Java Golkar DPD nominates Ridwan Kamil as candidate for governor

The Golkar Party's internal survey shows that Ridwan Kamil's electability as Governor of West Java is the highest.

KOMPAS

Ridwan Kamil, who joined the Golkar Party since mid-January, stated that he will focus again on competing for the Governor position of West Java in the 2024 election.

BANDUNG, KOMPAS — The Regional Leadership Council of the West Java Golkar Party is confident in facing the contestation in the West Java Governor Election next November. They also named Ridwan Kamil as the only candidate for governor of West Java for the 2024-2029 period.

"At present, we have a candidate for the governor of West Java. We have determined Mr. Ridwan Kamil to run again in the West Java Governor Election," said the Chairman of the West Java Golkar Party Regional Executive Board, Tubagus Ace Hasan Syadzily, on Tuesday (7/5/2024).

The Golkar Provincial Board of West Java has proposed the name of Ridwan Kamil to the Central Executive Board of Golkar. The determination of the proposal was made together with all Golkar officials in 27 regencies and cities in West Java.

Ace is optimistic that Ridwan Kamil or commonly known as Emil can achieve victory in West Java gubernatorial election for the second time. This refers to the results of internal surveys and independent institutions showing Emil's high electability.

KOMPAS/MACHRADIN WAHYUDI RITONGA

The Head of the Prabowo-Gibran Regional Campaign Team in West Java, Ridwan Kamil, walked towards the motorbike that would be used in the city of Bandung, West Java on Tuesday (30/1/2024). Ridwan Kamil, along with the second vice presidential candidate, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, visited several places in Bandung to listen to the aspirations of young people, ranging from digital industry activists to micro, small, and medium enterprises.

It is known that in the West Java Governor Election in 2018, Emil and his running mate, Uu Ruzhanul Ulum, won with a vote percentage of up to 32.88 percent. They obtained 7.2 million votes.

"We are very confident that he will once again achieve victory. Pre and post-election surveys still show that he has the highest electability," said Ace without specifying the percentage of his electability.

Also read: Ridwan Kamil's Magnetism and the Fight for the West Java One Seat

They added that Golkar has opened communication with the leadership of other political parties in West Java's Regional Senate. One of them is with PDI Perjuangan.

Golkar is open to cooperating with other political parties as a candidate for vice governor of West Java. We already have a number of potential candidates for vice governor and will conduct surveys to determine their level of electability.

As for this communication effort, it is to discuss the candidate for vice governor who can accompany Emil during the five years of his leadership tenure. This also fulfills the quota requirement for seats in the West Java Provincial DPRD to nominate a gubernatorial candidate.

KOMPAS/PRADIPTA PANDU

Chairman of the West Java Golkar DPD TB Ace Hasan Syadzily.

It is known that Golkar obtained 20 seats in the 2024 West Java Election. A political party must have 24 seats out of a total of 120 seats in West Java's DPRD to nominate a gubernatorial candidate.

"Golkar is open to collaborating with other political parties as a candidate for West Java deputy governor. We already have the names of several potential deputy governor candidates and will conduct surveys to determine their level of electability," he said, adding.

Also read: Declaration at Gedung Sate, Bima Arya Heats Up Competition for West Java Governor Candidate

Meanwhile, political observer from Parahyangan University, Pius Sugeng Prasetyo, believes that Emil has the highest chance of winning as the candidate for Governor of West Java. This is supported by Ridwan, who as the incumbent candidate, has social capital that is known to the public throughout the West Java region.

"Ridwan has the highest potential to win a second time in West Java. He only needs to choose a competent deputy governor to further boost their electability rate among the community," said Pius.