TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Political analysts agreed that Joko Widodo (Jokowi), presidential candidate from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), must be wisely accompanied by an appropriate vice president. Several speculations have risen regarding who is the most suitable person to be paired with Jokowi if he has become the Indonesian president.
"It cannot be a senior figure. Jokowi is a Javanese. He will be reluctant with a more senior deputy," said researcher at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) J. Kristiadi. He mentioned that Jokowi has a cultural burden that makes him uneasy to select a deputy. Jokowi needs also to elect a figure of less-troubled figure.
The main criteria of a deputy is a high susceptibility from the society. Kristiadi mentioned that a figure of hard-working, integrity, and honest can serve the prupose, in which he referred to Basuki Tjahaja Purnama or Ahok. "However, it is unlikely that Gerindra will allow that from happening," he said.
Regardless the age factor, he added that Mahfud Md. and Jusuf Kalla can be a proper deputy, provided that the two have assertive trait to balance Jokowi's subtle approach.
Political expert from Al-Azhar University Ziyad Alfalahi, also mentioned that Jokowi can use a more assertove figure, especially the one that has an experience at security aspect. Ziyad added that there are five challenges that Jokowi will face if he is elected, namely the election itself, ASEAN Community 2015, international conflict, separatism, and terrorism.
FRANSISCO ROSARIANS
