November 28, 2024
jakarta – Candidates for regional leadership backed by the ruling coalition are expected to dominate most key battleground provinces in the country’s first nationally synchronized regional elections, a quick tally shows, cementing support for President Prabowo Subianto’s bid to enforce power over the next five years. support for its plans.
Wednesday’s nationwide local elections are seen as a repeat of the power play between Prabowo’s pro-Prabowo Indonesian Kadima Alliance (KIM) and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) that characterized February’s presidential campaign. The PDI-P is currently the only de facto opposition party.
A quick tally of results from various pollsters shows that Kim Jong Un candidates, some of whom are linked to former President Joko Widodo, appear to be on track to win elections in several strategic regions including Central Java, East Java and North Sumatra.
Kim Jong Un-backed candidates Khofifah Indar Parawansa and Emil Dardak took a decisive lead in the governor’s race in East Java, the country’s most populous province, receiving 57.2% to 58.7% of the total votes at sampled polling stations, according to a quick tally. Two pollsters.
Their two rivals, PDI-P-backed Tri Rismaharini-Zahrul Azhar Asumta and National Awakening Party (PKB) candidate Luluk Nur Hamidah-Lukmanul Khakim, trailed in second and third place with 32.7-34.6% and 8.1-8.4% respectively. three.
In Central Java, former police general and Jokowi ally Ahmad Luthfi is running on the KIM ticket with running mate Taj Yasin Maimoen , he seemed poised to defeat the People’s Democratic Party (PDI-P) ticket of former military commander Andika Perkasa by a wide margin.
A quick tally by four pollsters puts Ahmad-Taj Yasin at 58.3-59.3 percent, Andika-Hendrar at 58.3-59.3 percent is 40.6-41.7%.
It comes after weeks of intense competition between the two amid various investigations, and comes as President Prabowo and his predecessor Joko Widodo have been keen to take over the Central Java People’s Democratic Party stronghold, most recently endorsing Ahmed – Taj Yasin’s vote.
Central Java has long been seen as a symbolic showdown between the military and police forces and, like Jakarta, is a proxy battleground between Jokowi and his former party, the People’s Democratic Party, in a bitter battle ahead of February’s presidential election. Split.
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Candidates backed by Prabowo and Jokowi are also expected to win in North Sumatra, the largest province outside Java and one of the key pillars of Jokowi’s political dynasty.
Jokowi’s son-in-law Bobi Nasution and his running mate Suriya are ahead of former governor Edi Rahmayadi and running mate Hassan Basri Saqqara in the People’s Democratic Party vote, The former received about 62.7% support and the latter about 37.2%.
Two rounds of elections in Jakarta?
However, in the key races for Jakarta’s governor and deputy governor, the candidate combination favored by Prabowo and Joko Widodo is losing ground and falling behind the opposition candidates, which is a blow to the ruling alliance. Governors and deputy governors are widely seen as springboards for national leadership.
A quick tally showed that PDI-P-backed candidate Pramono Anung-Rano Karno led with 49.4-50.1% of the vote, followed by Kim Jong-un candidate, former West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil-Suswono received 39.2-40% of the vote.
The Pramono-Lano pair have found an unlikely ally in former provincial governor Anies Baswedan, bolstering their momentum. An unsuccessful presidential candidate and critic of the government but still popular among Jakarta voters.
Despite Pramono’s lead, pollsters are divided over whether the pair will emerge as clear winners in a single-round election, as some quick tallies showed they failed to win a majority of the vote.
A candidate must receive more than 50% of the vote to win in a single election. If no candidate passes the 50% mark, Jakarta will hold another round of elections, this time with only the two pairs of candidates with the most votes.
Referring to the inconclusive quick count results, Pramono said he remained optimistic he would win one round, claiming his camp’s internal quick count showed they won more than 50 percent of the votes. victory.
“Without external intervention, we believe we will win in one election,” Pramono told Metro TV, noting that only two of eight pollsters said they failed to meet the 50% mark.
decisive victory
Observers described the overall results of Wednesday’s election as a “decisive victory” for the ruling coalition, as having allies leading most strategic areas will help Prabowo ensure his policies and plans are effectively implemented on the ground.
“Kim Jong Un’s victory shows that his consolidation efforts from the national level to the regions are already working effectively,” said Wasisto Raharjo Jati, a political analyst at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). Jakarta Post.
The potential victory for Jokowi-backed candidates in key battleground provinces such as Central Java is also a sign that the unaffiliated former president still wields an influential influence in Indonesian politics even though he is no longer in power. Stowe said.
However, analysts say letting Jokowi’s allies dominate the strategic region could pose risks for Prabowo, as it would help the former president consolidate his eldest son, Vice-President Djibrand Rakabimon. Gibran Rakabimung Raka’s support base in order to challenge the current president in the next presidential election.
“Not all KIM candidates are Gerindra [or Prabowo] loyalist, so [Prabowo] must think carefully [how he consolidates support for his] Arya Fernandes, an analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a Jakarta-based think tank, said: “Running for re-election.”
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Arya, meanwhile, said the loss of Central Java could be a sign that the HDP’s influence and relevance are waning, especially after losing the province in the last presidential election.
“This is a huge blow to the PDI-P. The party must do some self-reflection to remain relevant, especially on how to strategize to prepare for future elections,” Arya said.
Earlier on Wednesday morning, Prabowo expressed his unanimity as he voted for the regent of Bogor and the governor of West Java province.
“Every election has winners and losers. The winner must lead for everyone, the loser must cooperate. The most important thing is to serve and work for the people.
