Name of vice presidential candidate who will accompany President Joko Widodo increasingly conical, although not yet announced. PDIP Chairman, Megawati Soekarnoputri, said that the announcement of vice president candidate for Jokowi is waiting for the sunny weather. Of course Mega tried to make jokes. There could be a name, only waiting for the right time to announce it.
One of the strongest candidates is Mahfud M.D., an expert in constitutional law who has served as chairman of the Constitutional Court. Then, how the chance Mahfud to accompany Jokowi in this second period?
Mahfud is not a new person in the vortex of Jokowi. Although in the 2014 presidential election, Mahfud is part of the victory team Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa, even the flagship campaigner, once after the presidential election, “the affairs” of Mahfud and Prabowo had just finished.
Several times Mahfud participate in responding to the nation issue through twitter account or through the media. Mahfud is also a member of the Pancasila Ideology Development Board (BPIP) formed by Jokowi. He was the one who talked loudly when the opposition questioned about the salary of BPIP members.
Several times Jokowi asked Mahfud opinion, and also other legal experts related to the Indonesian nation. That is, Mahfud is not a new figure for the former mayor of Solo.
Mahfud once said, in an interview, that he never dreamed of becoming a vice presidential candidate. Mahfud also never declared himself and put billboards in the streets associated with his readiness to become vice president. However, do not want, does not mean do not want. That is, opportunities Mahfud to be a companion Jokowi still open.
Criteria of Vice President Candidate
In an excerpt of interviews, Mahfud once said about the criteria of vice presidents that “fit” for Jokowi. Mahfud-style criteria are based on the analysis of problems experienced by the Indonesian nation lately.
First, said Mahfud, if Indonesia’s main problem in the economic field, the ideal vice president is an economist. Moreover, the exchange rate of rupiah against the dollar continues to weaken, even above Rp 14,000.
Secondly, if the issue of the Indonesian nation is a matter of security and, of course, the connection of law enforcement, the appropriate vice president is someone with a military or police background.
Thirdly, if the problems of the Indonesian nation are radicalized and Jokowi wants to change the views of the people against him as president, suitable vice president is someone who has a strong Islamic background, could be kiai or ulama. Is he including one of the three criteria he made himself? “It could be,” he said.
Many political commentators have argued that the former National Awakening Party (PKB) politician is fit to be Jokowi’s companion. The first reason, Mahfud is a senior politician, although it is no longer active in political parties. He has a lot of experience in politics and government. Moreover, he also served as Minister of Defense and Minister of Justice (now Menkumham).
Second, Mahfud is a place to ask many people related to all the problems of this nation. Mahfud is also a constitutional expert who understands how to manage the state based on the law and the prevailing laws and regulations.
Third, his experience in the institution of the Constitutional Court is also an important point. That is, he know very well the issue of law enforcement and security in Indonesia, especially later in Indonesia often emerged the issue of radicalism. His background of Nahdlatul Ulama and former activist of Islamic Student Association (HMI) also adds points plus for him.
Fourth, about the character of Jokowi’s deputy during the leadership. Mahfud with his trademark style that is unambiguous and bold different from the thinking of most people according to the criteria of Jokowi’s deputy so far. Just look at F.X. Hadi Rudyatmo, Jokowi’s deputy when he served as Mayor of Solo; Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok), Jokowi’s deputy when he became Governor of DKI Jakarta; then Jusuf Kalla, who accompanied Jokowi for four years as vice president. Mahfud’s style and character practically almost similar to the three previous companion Jokowi.
The public is still waiting for who will become Jokowi’s vice president candidate. Of course, who’s Jokowi’s companion will have an effect on his vote in the 2019 presidential election.
