JAKARTA - The chairman of a political party affiliated with Indonesia’s largest Islamic organisation has agreed to contest as opposition presidential candidate Anies Baswedan’s running mate in the 2024 General Election, boosting Mr Anies’ chances in the polls.
Mr Muhaimin Iskandar, the 56-year-old chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB), and Mr Anies, 54, are the first confirmed pairing in what is expected to be a three-way race.
The other two likely presidential candidates – Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, 71, and Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, 54 – have yet to decide on their vice-presidential picks.
Recent surveys have pegged Mr Prabowo and Mr Ganjar as the front runners, with Mr Anies trailingin third place, but analysts say his pairing up with Mr Muhaimin may improve his chances.
A poll conducted by news site Kompas Daily between July 27 and Aug 7 showed Mr Ganjar leading with 24.9 per cent of respondents favouring him, while Mr Prabowo came a close second with 24.6 per cent. Only 12.7 per cent supported Mr Anies, while the rest remained undecided.
President Joko Widodo can no longer run as the country’s Constitution sets a limit of two five-year terms.
The pairing of Mr Anies with Mr Muhaimin is both rational and complementary, noted political analyst Burhanuddin Muhtadi. Mr Anies enjoys strong support in West Java province, but has weak influence in Central Java and East Java, which are the two traditional stronghold provinces of Mr Muhaimin and his PKB party.
“Since Indonesia held its first direct presidential election in 2004, no one can win the race if he doesn’t win in Central Java and East Java, which are the strongholds of Nahdlatul Ulama and PKB,” said Dr Burhanuddin, referring to Indonesia’s largest Islamic organisation.
Central Java and East Java are the second- and third-most populous provinces, respectively, in Indonesia. West Java is the most populous.
All three presidential candidates have the backing of a coalition of political parties that have at least 20 per cent of Parliament seats, as required by law.
The National Election Commission requires any political party or coalition of parties that fields or backs a pair of presidential and vice-presidential candidates to register them between Oct 19 and Nov 25, a period that will be followed by campaigning ahead of the general election on Feb 14, 2024.
A senior politician with the opposition camp told The Straits Times on Thursday night: “Anies-Muhaimin is a done deal. Formal declaration will be conducted as soon as possible.”
Mr Muhaimin’s surprise move to the opposition follows an apparent clash between him and Mr Prabowo on the choice of running mate. Mr Prabowo was expected to choose Mr Muhaimin to be his vice-presidential candidate, but there were signs he may have had second thoughts.
Mr Anies, on the other hand, was expected to pair up with Mr Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, chairman of the Democratic Party and the elder son of former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
Banners showing Mr Anies and Mr Agus were peppered along busy roads across Jakarta before they were taken down on Thursday night, signalling how close a partnership was.
The Straits Times understands that in the light of Mr Anies’ unilateral move to pick Mr Muhaimin, the Democratic Party was in talks on whether to continue to back his candidacy.
In a statement on Thursday, Democratic Party secretary-general Teuku Riefky Harsya said the party was informed on Wednesday by a delegate sent by Mr Anies that he would run with Mr Muhaimin.
“The Democratic Party was ‘forced’ to accept that decision,” Mr Teuku said, calling it a fait accompli.
Dr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said: “This is not the end of the world. This is not the end of our struggle.”
Indonesia, which has the world’s largest Muslim population, has four Islamic-leaning parties: PKB, the Prosperous Justice Party, the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the United Development Party (PPP).
PKB is affiliated with Indonesia’s largest Islamic organisation, Nahdlatul Ulama, while PAN is affiliated with the country’s second-largest Islamic organisation, Muhammadiyah.
The five other parties with representation in Parliament are nationalist.
Mr Ganjar is backed by the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle and PPP, while Mr Prabowo is backed by his own Gerindra party, the country’s oldest party Golkar, and PAN.
