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Anies, Ahok could rival Jokowi
Alternative candidates: Several academicians and administrators (shown on a computer screen) have the potential to compete with Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo in the 2014 presidential election, say researchers from the University of Indonesia and the Indonesian Institute of Sciences
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span class="inline inline-center">Alternative candidates: Several academicians and administrators (shown on a computer screen) have the potential to compete with Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo in the 2014 presidential election, say researchers from the University of Indonesia and the Indonesian Institute of Sciences. JP/Nurhayati
Anies Baswedan, Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama and Tri Rismaharini are seen as the potential presidential candidates that could match popular Jakarta Governor Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo should he run in the 2014 elections.
Anies, the rector of Paramadina University and a contender in the ruling Democratic Party's presidential convention, is considered to have the strongest political skills among 12 people deemed as worthy rivals for Jokowi, according to a study conducted by University of Indonesia (UI) researchers.
The study, which questioned 61 political analysts, found that on a scale of one to 10, Anies scored 7.26 for political skills, followed by Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismahani, popularly known as Risma, and Jokowi's own deputy, Ahok, who earned the scores 7.25 and 7.24, respectively.
'The skills include the ability to gather public support,' Hamdi Muluk of UI said as quoted by Antara during the announcement of the survey findings on Sunday.
Overall, the study found that Risma would be Jokowi's strongest rival with a total score of 7.38, followed by Ahok with 7.28 and Anies with 7.04. Risma, an Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) member, is ahead of others in terms of leadership quality, managerial skills and moral integrity.
Using the Delphi method, Hamdi said that the opinion survey was aimed at selecting future national leaders based on their quality and capabilities. 'We deliberately ignored such variables as popularity and electability. We didn't even take into account whether or not they want to be nominated.'
Hamdi said that the Delphi method was a commonly used forecasting tool and that political parties should consider the findings of the study. 'If political parties want to survive, they should consider these names,' he said.
The study, which was conducted from Dec. 16 until Dec. 17, found that Anies and Risma both scored 7.14 in emotional stability. Meanwhile, Ahok, a Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party politician who is known for his no-nonsense attitude and perceived short temper, scored far below Anies and Risma with 5.7.
However, Hamdi said that the Chinese politician from Bangka Belitung was seen as the smartest. 'He is considered to be more intelligent than the other potential candidates.'
Jokowi, a PDI-P politician, has been named the strongest presidential candidate by numerous surveys, although the party has yet to officially announce his candidacy. His approval ratings are much higher than those of other prominent figures such as tycoon and Golkar Party chairman Aburizal Bakrie as well as former Army's Special Forces (Kopassus) commander and Gerindra Party chief patron Lt. Gen. (ret.) Prabowo Subianto.
Ahok has repeatedly stated his loyalty to Prabowo and that he is not interested in running for president. Meanwhile, Risma, as a PDI-P member, is unlikely to run against Jokowi, let alone PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri,
who may run again despite her low ratings.
Gun Gun Heryanto, a political analyst from Jakarta State Islamic University, said Anies' brand was competitive enough but that the political market was too crowded. 'I think it is better for him to quit the presidential convention.'
Other figures who could rival Jokowi, according to the study, are Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairman Abraham Samad, business tycoon Chairul Tanjung, railway operator PT KAI CEO Ignasius Jonan, Finance Minister Chatib Basri and West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan.
The study also named Prabowo as the presidential candidate with the highest rate of resistance. 'He was rejected by 20 percent of the 61 experts,' Hamdi said.
Prabowo, according to Hamdi, was considered to have lacked integrity and competence. Prabowo would always be linked with his 'alleged wrongdoings in the past,' he said.
Golkar's Aburizal and king of dangdut Rhoma Irama, who had been touted as a potential candidate from the Islamic National Awakening Party (PKB), also lacked support from the experts.
The two garnered resistance from 18 percent of the experts, followed by Megawati (7 percent).
