The Golkar Party is looking to receive a boost of power ahead of the 2024 elections with the arrival of West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil as a new member. Chairman Airlangga Hartarto announced Ridwan’s entry to the Golkar fold on Jan. 18, saying the move had allowed the party to look toward the elections with guarded optimism amid the increasingly fierce competition. Airlangga added that the party now stood a great of winning the most votes in West Java for the first time since 2004.

Prior to joining Golkar, Ridwan had been a member of Kosgoro 1957, an organization affiliated to Golkar. The party’s overwhelming confidence in Ridwan also saw him immediately appointed to two strategic positions in the party: deputy chairman and cochair of the election committee (Bappilu). During last Wednesday’s announcement, Airlangga explained that in his new posts, Ridwan would be responsible for wooing voters and helping the party win the elections.

Ridwan is known as a nonpartisan politician. Running as an independent candidate, he won the Bandung mayoralty in 2013 with support from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and Gerindra. Five years later, he won the West Java governorship alongside running mate Uu Ruzhanul Ulum, this time with the backing of the United Development Party (PPP), the National Awakening Party (PKB), Hanura and the NasDem Party. One of Ridwan’s most valuable capitals that Golkar can exploit is his strong social media presence. Counting among the younger, digital savvy generation of politicians, Ridwan’s lighthearted online persona has cemented his popularity among the Indonesian public, which has only contributed to his rising electability.

For the 2024 legislative election, Golkar has set an ambitious goal of winning 20 percent of the vote and 115 seats in the House of Representatives.

As the de facto leader of the United Indonesia Coalition (KIB) it formed with the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the PPP, Golkar is still set on nominating Airlangga for the 2024 presidential election while banking on Ridwan’s electability to attract voters. Golkar politician Dave Laksono has confirmed that the party’s decision was unchanged. However, the KIB is yet to make a final decision on its presidential-vice presidential pair, and Airlangga’s sagging electability rating remains a problem. Several regional branches of PAN and the PPP have voiced their support for Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, who hails from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P). In response, Golkar deputy chairwoman Nurul Arifin said the KIB members were free to weigh their options, as nothing was set in stone as yet.

Although it is unlikely Ridwan will run for the presidency under the Golkar banner in 2024, it is possible that he will seek reelection as West Java governor or aim higher by bidding for the Jakarta governorship. Golkar executive Ace Hasan Syadzily said Ridwan had the potential to win a second term as West Java governor because he already met Golkar’s requirements, which included a high electability rating and excellent performance. Ace added that Golkar would not hesitate to nominate Ridwan for the Jakarta gubernatorial race, although Airlangga would have the final say.

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