Political parties are still keeping their nomination strategies in the regional elections after the Constitutional Court's rulings number 60 and 70 regarding the age limit for nomination and the leniency of non-parliamentary political parties to nominate candidates in the regional elections. The General Chairperson of the Democratic Party, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, expressed the solidity of the KIM Advanced Indonesia Coalition in the Jakarta regional elections after the Constitutional Court's ruling.
“Is KIM still solid? I think it's still solid. I feel it's still solid. I think what's important is that no matter how many candidate pairs, no matter how many coalitions are formed, not only in DKI Jakarta, but everywhere, throughout Indonesia, as long as we can guarantee that democracy or regional elections run democratically, honestly, fairly and openly,” said the eldest son of the 6th President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, which was broadcast live on the official social media of the party with the “Mercy Star” symbol, Friday (23/8).
AHY further emphasized that his party is in line with the Constitutional Court's decision regarding the Pilkada rules. The Democratic Party, he said, continues to monitor the political situation and dynamics in the last few days, especially after the Constitutional Court's decision on regional head nominations, AHY added.
The Democratic Party is part of 12 political parties that supported the pair of former West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil and former Agriculture Minister Suswono in the Jakarta gubernatorial election. They are part of the New Jakarta Coalition for Advanced Jakarta. The declaration was held ahead of the Constitutional Court's ruling early last week, Monday (19/8).
AHY was reluctant to comment on the Constitutional Court's ruling regarding the age limit for candidacy which hinders the plan of President Jokowi's youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep, to run in the election for governor and deputy governor of Central Java.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) has also not announced the candidates it will nominate in the Java gubernatorial election. In fact, after the Constitutional Court ruling, the party with the white-nosed bull symbol had the opportunity to nominate candidates, especially in the Jakarta gubernatorial election which was previously held hostage by the requirements for obtaining seats in the DPRD. After the Constitutional Court ruling, PDIP again announced the second phase of candidates totaling 169 prospective regional head candidates. Before the Constitutional Court ruling or phase 1, PDIP had announced 305 prospective regional head candidates.
PDI Perjuangan Secretary General, Hasto Kristiyanto revealed the report when PDIP gave recommendations to the candidates.
“Allow us to report that the total number of regional head and deputy regional head candidate pairs that have been decided by Mrs. Megawati Soekarnoputri and announced today come from 169 regions, 6 provinces at the provincial level, 151 regencies and 12 cities at the district/city level. Jakarta is waiting for Mrs. Mega's decision, as well as for Central Java and East Java,” he said with a laugh, which was then greeted by loud applause from hundreds of cadres at the PDIP DPP, Thursday (22/8).
Hasto ensured that the recommendation for the second stage candidates from PDIP was based on the Constitutional Court Decision No. 60 of 2024 concerning the threshold for political parties in registering candidate pairs.
Observer: Constitutional Court's decision on regional elections is a symbol of democracy
Political communication observer from Sebelas Maret University Solo, Sri Hastjarjo revealed that the Pilkada is a political gamble between the KIM Indonesia Maju Coalition and the PDIP coalition. The coalition's solidity is being tested after the Constitutional Court's decision, he said.
“I see that in this regional election there will be head to head between the coalition supporting Jokowi in KIM and the coalition formed by PDIP. The Constitutional Court's decision paves the way for PDIP and non-parliamentary political parties that were previously unable to nominate candidates due to regulations to finally be able to nominate (candidates). This is also a test for the Advanced Indonesia Coalition whether anyone will leave to form a new coalition outside of the two,” Hastjarjo told VOA on Friday (8/23).
Furthermore, Hastjarjo explained that the results of the 2024 Presidential and Legislative Elections were a reference for political parties in determining strategies in the regional elections. PDIP in the area known as the “bull pen” managed to gain dominant votes or win in the Legislative Election but lost in the Presidential Election.
“I hope there will be many candidates in the regional elections, it will be more crowded. Not just 2 pairs or even against an empty box,” said the lecturer who graduated from a campus in Australia. (ys)
