Gatot could be Jokowi's potential running mate

ELECTION SYSTEM - JAKARTA. Despite his high approval ratings, according to recent surveys, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo still needed a right running mate to boost his chances for reelection in the 2019 race, Pollster Indikator Politik Indonesia executive director Burhanuddin Muhtadi said on Friday (10/20).

“[Jokowi's] vice presidential candidate is important to garner higher electability among Muslim voters,” he said during a discussion.

Indikator's latest survey showed that, of 16 potential running mate candidates for Jokowi, former Jakarta governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and Bandung Mayor Ridwan Kamil were the favorites, Burhanuddin said.

“Ahok’s supporters are loyal, but the numbers are not increasing. Gatot, meanwhile, is a potential vice presidential candidate because he could steal support for Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto, Jokowi's strongest rival,” he said.

He added that both Ahok and Sri Mulyani would not give electability benefits to Jokowi because their supporters were mostly also Jokowi’s.

They came from the post truth group, he said, adding that they believed Jokowi had not been representing them. Burhanuddin said Gatot’s voters were coming from the post truth group therefore he could boost Jokowi’s electability.

Meanwhile, Budi Arie Setiadi, the chairman of pro-Jokowi group PROJO, said Jokowi would not choose a running mate based on those figures. “He would choose someone who would work with him to achieve the goals of the people.” (dra/bbs)