For the Democrats, AHY is not set in stone to become Anies’ vice presidential candidate. Up to this point, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), AHY’s father and chairman of the Democratic Party’s Board of Trustees, is considered consistent. “Agree with Anies-Khofifah, but don’t stop AHY from appearing,” was the information from a few months ago when SBY met Jusuf Kalla (JK) in Cikeas.
FROM the start, Nasdem and PKS wanted to pair Anies-Khofifah as presidential and vice presidential candidates. Delayed because the Democrats still proposed its chairman, Mr. Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY).
After long discussions, for months and even at the turn of the year (2022-2023), a deal was finally reached. That day, Thursday, January 26, the Democrats decided to nominate Anies Rasyid Baswedan.
For the Democrats, AHY is not set in stone to become Anies’ vice presidential candidate. Up to this point, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), AHY’s father and chairman of the Democratic Party’s Board of Trustees, is considered consistent.
“Agree with Anies-Khofifah, but don’t stop AHY from appearing,” was the information from a few months ago when SBY met Jusuf Kalla (JK) in Cikeas.
What are the considerations of the Coalition for Change in supporting Anies-Khofifah?
First, Ms. Khofifah is strong in East Java. The majority of East Java residents are Nahdhiyin. Apart from the Governor, Khofifah is a former chairman of the Muslimat NU.
The Khofifah market among Nahdhiyin women is also very strong. Khofifah’s advancement as vice presidential candidate will most likely be able to win more than 50 percent of the votes of East Java residents.
It is predicted that it could be bigger than the votes obtained during the East Java gubernatorial election considering that currently Khofifah is the Governor of East Java. As Governor, Khofifah’s celebration, results of work and network are certainly getting bigger.
Not only East Java, by taking Khofifah as vice presidential candidate, Nahdhiyin residents throughout Indonesia, including in Central Java will feel they have a representation. At the same time, this can also reduce the votes for prospective candidates from PDI-P, especially in Central Java.
Second, the apathy of some Nahdhiyin members towards issues of identity politics, radicalism, wahabi, kadrun, and the like, which so far have been quite successful in being accused and even “slandered” against Anies and spread intentionally and intensely by political opponents among Nahdhiyin members will naturally subside.
The presence of Ms. Khofifah, former chairperson of the NU Muslimat, will erase all of these accusations.
From this, many will realize that “all of this is a game of political issues and maneuvers”. The student of Islamic boarding school (santri) call it all slander and political crimes. There will be many innocent students and academics (not aw are of politics) who will be awakened.
Third, East Java is the second most populous after West Java. There are 30 million voters in East Java. Anies is strong in West Java, but not in East Java. By pairing Anies-Khofifah, it is relatively easy for the change coalition to win East Java and West Java.
Reading data from previous elections, who won in two of the three largest regions in Indonesia, namely West Java (34 million voters), Central Java (27 million voters) and East Java (30 million voters), they will win. By pairing Anies-Khofifah, this pair is strongly predicted to win the 2024 presidential election contest.
Tony Rosyid, Political Observer