The surprise decision by the NasDem Party and the National Awakening Party (PKB) to pair former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan and PKB leader Muhaimin Iskandar as presidential and vice presidential candidates is expected to have a wider ripple effect on the reconfiguration of the political alliances ahead of next year’s election.

In an unexpected turn of events, Anies has officially named Muhaimin, a major supporter of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo who had backed past initiatives to extend the President’s term, as his running mate, igniting the ire of the Democratic Party, which had expected to secure the vice presidential slot for its chairman, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono.

With the PKB joining and the Democrats defecting from Anies’ Coalition of Change for Unity (KPP), leaving the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) as the only opposition party within the political alliance, it has become problematic to portray Anies as an opposition candidate and his coalition the main vehicle for political change.

While the relationship between Jokowi and NasDem chairman Surya Paloh remains fractious, the PKB’s support for Anies has practically made him a presidential candidate backed by two major pro-Jokowi parties that are set to protect his legacies.

The PKB move has also paved the way for a possible creation of a fourth axis, consisting of the Democrats, the PKS and the United Development Party (PPP), to pair PPP politician Sandiaga Uno, another Jokowi loyalist, and Agus Yudhoyono. In this scenario, the 2024 race will be contested by four pro-Jokowi contenders.

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