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Calculating Anies’ chance to contest presidential race
Interestingly, a number of parties from the ruling coalition have shown signs that they intend to nominate Anies.
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Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan (center) gives a speech during the launching ceremony of Jakarta Bermasker (Jakarta Wearing Mask) logo at the Jakarta Police headquarters on Feb. 3, 2021. (Antara/M. Risyal Hidayat)
Many wonder what the future holds for Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan after he ends his five-year term on Oct. 16.
Despite criticisms from his detractors, most recently related to Jakarta’s plan to host the Formula E race, Anies has consistently been touted as one of the strongest candidates in the 2024 presidential race. Popular support is seen growing for Anies to take the highest office, at least according to several opinion surveys, which found that Anies competes neck-to-neck with Defense Minister and Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto, and Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).
A Kompas survey conducted between Sept. 26 and Oct. 9, 2021 ranked Anies third in terms of electability with 9.6 percent, below Prabowo and Ganjar. Previously a survey by Chartapolitika in July 2021 rated Anies’ electability at 14.6 percent, close behind Prabowo’s. Several other polls showed quite similar results.
The latest survey by Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC) from Feb. 5 to 8 discovered that 17 percent of West Java residents preferred Anies as a presidential candidate over Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno and, surprisingly, West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil.
Meanwhile, the Populi Center found in its survey conducted on 600 respondents in Jakarta that Anies’ electability rate reached 29 percent, far above Prabowo with only 11.5 percent.
Performance-wise, Anies can hold his head high when he leaves office thanks to the legacy that he will pass on to Jakarta people. To name just a few of the accomplishments during Anies’ term, Jakarta built a new, big stadium called Jakarta International Stadium, new flyovers and no less than 40 child friendly playgrounds. He also revitalized rivers, lakes and kampongs in slum areas restored 69 public parks and integrated the city’s public transportation system.
Anies is eager to make Jakarta a world leader in public transportation by shifting the paradigm from car-oriented development to transit-oriented development. For instance, Jakarta has doubled the coverage of public transportation from 42 percent in 2017 to 82 percent and has set a target of operating 14,000 electric buses, or 60 percent of the city’s bus fleet, by 2030.
