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Airlangga-Paloh-Kalla meeting sparks speculation of shifting alliance
The speculations intensified on Tuesday after a Golkar executive revealed that during the meeting Airlangga was advised by former vice president Jusuf Kalla, who led Golkar between 2004 and 2009, to join the KPP, which is nominating former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan for the 2024 presidential race.
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n iftar gathering between Golkar Party chairman Airlangga Hartarto and leaders of the Coalition for Change and Unity (KPP) over the weekend has sparked speculations of a potential shift in the grand old party’s strategy for the 2024 general elections.
The speculations intensified on Tuesday after a Golkar executive revealed that during the meeting Airlangga was advised by former vice president Jusuf Kalla, who led Golkar between 2004 and 2009, to join the KPP, which is nominating former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan for the 2024 presidential race.
While it is no surprise for Kalla to give such an advice, for he is known as a long-time supporter of Anies, Airlangga’s presence at the political gathering, which was attended by all the political leaders from the KPP alliance, was symbolic. He was seen sitting with Kalla, Democratic Party chairman Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono and Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) secretary-general Aboe Bakar Alhabsyi, after which he held a closed door meeting with NasDem Party chairman Surya Paloh, who once served as Golkar’s chief patron.
Golkar executive Ahmad Doli Kurnia said the suggestion for Golkar to join the KPP popped up during the meeting between Kalla and the KPP leaders. Though Doli said that the final say on the party’s political direction rested with the party’s members. “Of course, our seniors have their own views and suggestions, all of which will be discussed in the party’s official meeting, whether among central board executives or leaderships of party’s councils,” he said.
Golkar reunion
Speaking to reporters after the event on Saturday, Airlangga described the meeting as akin to a reunion with a number of senior figures who were once Golkar members, saying that he was open to the possibility of working with NasDem, given the close ties between the two party's senior politicians
"We're very close because Pak Surya Paloh was once chairman of Golkar's advisory board during the leadership of Pak Jusuf Kalla, who was also the country's 10th and 12th vice president," Airlangga told a press briefing.
Golkar, the country’s third largest party, has formally formed the United Indonesia Coalition together with two smaller parties — the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the United Development Party (PPP). The alliance, however, has yet to nominate a presidential candidate, as it has no strong name to match the front-runners in most public opinion polls.
Golkar executives have insisted that the party would nominate Airlangga as a presidential candidate, but both PAN and PPP have been weighing their options on whether the coalition would back the presidential ticket backed by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, especially after the President appeared to have zeroed in on his choice of Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo and Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto.
The PPP has also flirted with the idea of nominating Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno for president, though this decision is contingent on the approval of Prabowo, the leader of Gerindra, of which Sandiaga is a member.
‘Negotiating everything’
Asked whether Golkar was now eyeing the presidential post given Airlangga’s poor poll numbers, Golkar’s Doli said the party was still keen on nominating Airlangga as a presidential candidate. He added, however, the party was “still exploring the best format” for 2024. “We are still negotiating everything with all the elites and leaders of political parties,” Doli said.
Airlangga's overture to NasDem took place as other members of the Golkar-led United Indonesia Coalition (KIB) were weighing their options on whether it would back the presidential ticket backed by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, especially after the President appeared to have settled with either Prabowo or Ganjar.
“There might be lobbying effort from Kalla’s faction or supporters of Anies within the party to support Anies, especially seeing Airlangga’s rating has not been improving,” Ujang Komaruddin, a political analyst of the Indonesia Political Review, told The Jakarta Post.
A recent survey by pollster Indikator Politik, taken between Feb. 9 and 16, found that the majority of Golkar’s supporters would vote for Anies, while 15.8 percent of them would vote for Ganjar, 18.3 percent would support Prabowo and only 0.9 percent would vote for its chairman Airlangga.
‘Unlikely’ ally
Several groups within the party have already pinned their hopes on Anies, including the Golkar Party's Youth Movement (GMPG) led by Sirajuddin Abdul Wahab, who has been disappointed with Golkar’s failure in producing new young leaders and has blamed Airlangga's poor electability for the party's devaluation amid stiff electoral competition.
Back in October, Sirajuddin openly declared his support for Anies and launched a nationwide volunteer group called Go-Anies to help his chances at securing victory in 2024. The launch event was attended by fellow Golkar member Sofhian Mile, former Golkar politician Andi Sinulingga and Anies himself who was symbolically given a vest in yellow, the party’s color.
Indonesia Political Review’s Ujang however said that any chances Golkar would shift its support toward Anies remained small.
“Jokowi has owned Golkar since Airlangga took over the party’s chairmanship, and many of Anies supporters within Golkar do not hold structural posts. The party will likely follow the President’s direction regarding the presidential and vice presidential nomination, and that would not be Anies,” Ujang said. (ahw)
