jfid – The first day of the presidential campaign 2024 started on Sunday, November 28, 2023. Three pairs of presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
namely Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar (Anies-Cak Imin), Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka (Prabowo-Gibran), and Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD (Ganjar-Mahfud), each showed different strategies and styles of campaigning. However, among them, who stood out and managed to attract public attention?
Pair number 1, Anies-Cak Imin, chose to campaign directly by visiting a number of places in Jakarta. They visited Tanah Merah, a densely populated area in North Jakarta that was once planned to be the location of reclamation by the former Governor of DKI Jakarta, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok).
There, Anies-Cak Imin reaffirmed their commitment to protect the rights of coastal residents and reject the reclamation project that was considered detrimental to the community. They also promised to improve the infrastructure and public services in the area.
Pair number 2, Prabowo-Gibran, relied more on social media and online platforms to convey their vision and mission. They held a number of interactive dialogues with various communities and groups of people through Zoom, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.
They also used their personal and campaign team accounts to upload interesting content, such as short videos, memes, infographics, and podcasts. They tried to reach out to the young and millennial generation who became their support base.
Pair number 3, Ganjar-Mahfud, seemed to be the most prominent on the first day of the campaign. They held an open campaign at the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) Stadium, Jakarta, by inviting thousands of their supporters and sympathizers.
They also brought a number of famous figures and artists, such as President Joko Widodo, Megawati Soekarnoputri, Raffi Ahmad, Ariel NOAH, and Via Vallen.
They delivered speeches that aroused enthusiasm and optimism, and sang songs that entertained and inspired. They also showed various attractions and performances, such as dances, music, and fireworks.
The political strategy adopted by the three candidates reflects their character and strength. Anies-Cak Imin relied on the popularity and electability of Anies as the former Governor of DKI Jakarta, and the network and mass base of Cak Imin as the General Chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB).
They tried to show their empathy and concern for the common people, especially in urban areas. They also wanted to build an image as a religious and nationalist pair.
Prabowo-Gibran relied on the experience and reputation of Prabowo as the former Commander of the Army Strategic Reserve Command (Kostrad) and the General Chairman of the Gerindra Party, and the freshness and creativity of Gibran as the son of President Joko Widodo and a young entrepreneur.
They tried to show their ability and credibility in the fields of economy and defense, and their sophistication and contemporaneity in the fields of technology and culture. They also wanted to build an image as a dynamic and inclusive pair.
Ganjar-Mahfud relied on the achievements and performance of Ganjar as the Governor of Central Java for two periods, and the capacity and integrity of Mahfud as the former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court and the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs.
They tried to show their progressive and reformist vision and mission, and their concrete and realistic programs. They also wanted to build an image as a clean and courageous pair.
Of the three candidates, Ganjar-Mahfud seemed to steal the public’s attention with their open campaign at GBK.
They were able to show their strength and solidity as a pair supported by the largest coalition, namely the United Indonesia Coalition, which consists of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), the Golkar Party, the NasDem Party, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the National Mandate Party (PAN), the United Development Party (PPP), the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), and the Perindo Party.
They were also able to attract sympathy and enthusiasm from the public with a lively and entertaining campaign, while still adhering to health protocols.
However, Ganjar-Mahfud’s open campaign also drew criticism and controversy from some parties. Some political observers and social activists considered that the open campaign was contrary to the principles of healthy and participatory democracy, because it relied more on popularity and sensationalism, rather than substance and rationality.
Some parties also accused that the open campaign violated the rules and ethics of campaigning, because it used public facilities and invited masses that could potentially cause crowds and spread of Covid-19.
Meanwhile, Anies-Cak Imin and Prabowo-Gibran did not want to lose to Ganjar-Mahfud. They claimed that their campaigns were more effective and efficient, because they were closer and more interactive with the people, and more economical and environmentally friendly.
They also challenged Ganjar-Mahfud to hold public debates and open discussions, so that the public can assess and compare the vision, mission, and programs of the three candidates honestly and fairly.
The first day of the presidential campaign 2024 showed the dynamics and fierce competition between the three candidates. Each candidate tried to highlight their advantages and cover their weaknesses, and attract the hearts and minds of voters.
However, the presidential campaign 2024 is not only about strategy and style, but also about substance and quality. Voters have the right and obligation to demand and choose candidates who match their aspirations and interests, and are able to lead Indonesia to a better direction.
