REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, By: Nasihin Masha
Like or dislike, Prabowo Subianto has strong capabilities, his program, his vission even his ideas that are so real. His explanation about his target and funding sources for highway construction and railway development in Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi are so clear. His presentations in various places about the future of Indonesia if he becomes a president are so concrete and making sense. It was same as Gerindra party's program that promoted equity and economic nationalism, which attracted public attentions. However, he has two weaknesses, the story of activists' abductions ahead of Soeharto's regime and his temperament and impulsive personality. Prabowo complained public rejection over his clarity, and then he made a poem about politeness.
Prabowo was angry. He said: people can steal politely, people can corrupt politely, and people can lie politely. People are worrying if he becoming a president. In social media, many people compare Prabowo's style with Hitler. Both of them have military background and love riding horse. There is also strong rumour about his habits, he often rebukes and 'cruel' to his men if they made mistakes. The rumour goes up and there has been no denial from Prabowo and people around him.
When a person wants to be a presidential candidate or local head, he must be reviewed from all aspects, starting from objective and subjective things, his ideas and personality, his behaviour and his family's behaviour. Sometimes we will be surprised about the things that we did not expect. Prabowo must ready to face the most important thing, namely public perception.
Based on survey, Prabowo's electability does not move significantly, still below 20 percent, so he is still working to convince public that he deserves to be a president. He put advertising in media, meets public, speaks everywhere and got supports from some rectors, former rectors and intellectual figures, such as former rector of Padjajaran University, Yuyun Wirasasmita and former rector of Sultan Agung Islamic University, Laode M Kamaludin.
The euphoria is the dispute between Joko Widodo (known as Jokowi) with Megawati Soekarnoputri. Prabowo was felt cheated. He was one of Jokowi's supporters in gubernatorial election in Jakarta. He was also vice presidential candidate for Megawati in 2009 general election. Both of them have written an agreement that Megawati would support Prabowo for president in 2014. However, PDIP named Jokowi as presidential candidate and Prabowo could not hide his disappointment and teasing Jokowi and Megawati.
2014 election may be the last chance for Prabowo to run as presidential candidate. In 2019, he will be 68 year old. He basically still has the opportunity, but he is relatively old man. Prabowo has tried to be the president since 2004. At that time, he participated in Golkar party's convention, but Wiranto won it. He founded his own party, Gerindra in 2007 and accompanying Megawati in 2009 election, but they were defeated by Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Boediono. Now, when Gerindra has been relatively consolidated, Prabowo ensured to run as presidential candidate. Jokowi gained majority of public supports. His electability's level continues to increase over time. This year election seemed to become Jokowi's property.
Do not talk about pessimism in front of politicians as they will always be optimistic. Moreover, presidential election is still three months away. Several parties still have not made their decisions. They are still waiting legislative election's result. There are two factors determining the future of political direction, namely the attitude of Islamic parties and the attitude of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. However, Islamic parties still have the power to mobilize public attentions, while Yudhoyono - outside his positon in Democratic Party - has his own power, particularly his popularity and network enterpreneur, interest groups and environmental groups in military. Prabowo can lose a ticket to run presidential contest. Until now, his electability and Gerindra parliamentary's threshold have not been reached.
Prabowo and Gerindra still have home works to reach the goal. One thing that he must remember, public do not need logic and reasons, but heart. A person does not need a horse, but a simple flower. You must win people's hearts, so you will get a million loves.
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