Last Day to Register for Regional Elections; What of Anies Baswedan?

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle or PDIP has decided to nominate the candidate pair Pramono Anung and Rano Karno for the 2024 Jakarta elections. It was previously rumored that the PDIP would nominate former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan with Rano Karno. 

Public speculation was further strengthened when Anies visited the party’s office on Monday, August 26, 2024. In the end, however, PDIP chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri decided to nominate her own party cadres.

Pramono-Rano registered with the Jakarta General Elections Commission (KPU) on Wednesday, August 28, 2024. They were accompanied by several PDIP elites, including Jakarta PDIP Regional Leadership Council (DPD) chair Adi Wijaya, Tri Risma Harini, and Basuki Tjahaja Purnama alias Ahok.

Pramono Claims to Have Called Anies

Pramono Anung revealed that he had contacted Anies before being named as a prospective gubernatorial candidate endorsed by PDIP. He said he wanted to form a partnership with Anies. He also mentioned that he had a good relationship with Anies.

“On Sunday or Saturday, I called Mas Anies. The one who actually connected me was the chairman of the DPD (Adi Wijaya). I told Mas Anies, 'Mas, bismillah, hopefully we are compatible,'” Pramono said at his home in South Jakarta on Wednesday, August 28, 2024.

Anies Baswedan’s Comments

When met at his residence in the Lebak Bulus area, South Jakarta on Wednesday morning, August 28, 2024, Anies did not say much and his house appeared quiet. Anies was seen leaving the house in his private car. He was sitting in the back seat accompanied by his team.

The reporters had an opportunity to ask him, but he did not say much. He only mentioned that he planned to meet with several people on the second day of the election registration.

Tempo observed Anies leaving his home at around 8:04 a.m. When asked for his reaction to the PDIP's cancellation of his nomination, Anies only conveyed his prayers for Jakarta's future. He hoped that Jakarta would be more progressive, calm, peaceful, and prosperous.

“Let’s pray that everything goes smoothly,” he shortly said.

He claimed that the PDIP had withdrawn his nomination. “We don't know about it yet,” he added.

Observer's Advice for Anies Baswedan

A political observer from Al-Azhar University Indonesia, Ujang Komarudin, suggested that Anies should be less idealistic and join a political party for leadership at the regional or national levels. Anies' position has always been as a non-party figure, both in the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election and the 2024 presidential election.

“Idealism should still be maintained, but in the context of national and regional leadership, Anies should at least join a party,” Ujang said on Wednesday, August 28, as reported by Antara.

According to him, being a political party cadre is necessary to avoid being perceived as someone who only wants to piggyback on a political party as a vehicle to advance in the 2024 Jakarta gubernatorial election.

The Executive Director of the Indonesian Political Review (IPR) stated that political parties would not want that. Therefore, he suggested that Anies Baswedan become a party cadre or establish his own political party.

SAVINA RIZKY HAMIDA | NOVALI PANJI NUGROHO | SAVERO ARISTIA WIENANTO

Editor's Choice: Anies Baswedan and Rano Karno Meet at PDIP Headquarters

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