Jakarta Governor Candidate Pair Ridwan Kamil-Suswono Opts Not to Challenge Election Results
In a meaningful development, the Jakarta Governor candidate pair Ridwan Kamil and Suswono, popularly known as Rido, have decided not to challenge the results of the jakarta Regional Head Election at the Constitutional Court. Despite earlier plans to file a lawsuit, the team did not submit any dispute by the registration deadline of 11:59 p.m. WIB on Wednesday, December 11, 2024.
Field observations by Tempo revealed that no representatives from the Ridwan-Suswono team appeared at the constitutional court Building on Jalan Merdeka Barat, Central jakarta, to file a dispute. According to the Constitutional court’s official website (mkri.go.id), only 14 requests for disputes were submitted for provincial-level elections by the deadline. Notably, none of thes lawsuits were filed by the Ridwan-Suswono team or the indonesian Developed Coalition (KIM) Plus, which supported their candidacy.
A politician from the Golkar Party, who is part of the Rido campaign, confirmed that the legal team did not proceed with the lawsuit. Earlier reports suggested that the team had intended to file a dispute on Wednesday night, just before the deadline. However, the politician declined to provide specific reasons for the decision to withdraw the lawsuit.
Another member of the Ridwan-Suswono campaign echoed this sentiment, stating that the team had accepted the decision of the Jakarta Election Commission, which announced the final vote tally on Sunday, December 8, 2024. “In a competition and democracy, winning and losing is a common thing,” the team member remarked.
key figures from the Rido campaign, including Ahmad Riza Patria (Head of the Winning Team), Basri Baco (Secretary), and Ramdan Alamsyah (Coordinator), have not yet commented on the matter. According to the law governing gubernatorial, regent, and mayor elections, the deadline to submit disputes to the Constitutional Court was three days after the announcement of the results, which fell on December 11, 2024.
The Jakarta Election commission declared Pramono Anung and Rano Karno as the winners of the election, securing 2,183,239 votes, or 50.07 percent of the total. Ridwan Kamil and Suswono received 1,718,160 votes (39.40 percent), while Dharma Pongrekun and Kun Wardana garnered 459,230 votes (10 percent).
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### Interview: Jakarta Governor Election 2024 – Why Ridwan Kamil-Suswono Decided Not to Challenge the Results
In a surprising turn of events, the Jakarta Governor candidate pair Ridwan Kamil and Suswono, known as “Rido,” chose not to challenge the results of the Jakarta Regional Head Election at the Constitutional Court. This decision came despite earlier indications that they might file a lawsuit before the December 11, 2024, deadline. The Jakarta election Commission had declared Pramono Anung and Rano Karno as the winners, securing 50.07% of the votes. Ridwan Kamil and Suswono received 39.40% of the votes, while the third pair, Dharma Pongrekun and Kun Wardana, garnered 10%.
Below is an interview with **Dr. Indra Setiawan**, a political analyst and expert on Indonesian regional elections, discussing the implications of this decision and its broader impact on Indonesian politics.
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#### **Senior Editor (SE):** Dr.Setiawan, thank you for joining us today. The decision by Ridwan Kamil and Suswono not to challenge the Jakarta election results has caught many by surprise.What do you think led to this decision?
**Dr. Indra Setiawan (IS):** Thank you for having me. This decision is indeed important, and I believe it reflects a strategic move by the Ridwan-Suswono team.While they initially considered filing a lawsuit, the legal team likely weighed the potential outcomes and decided it was not in their best interest to pursue a challenge.
One key factor could be the relatively narrow margin between their votes and those of the winning pair,Pramono Anung and Rano Karno.The final tally showed a difference of about 10 percentage points, which might not have been enough to overturn the results even if discrepancies were found.Additionally, the political climate in Jakarta is highly charged, and any legal battle could have escalated tensions.
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#### **SE:** The article mentions that the Ridwan-Suswono team accepted the decision of the Jakarta Election Commission. Do you think this reflects a broader acceptance of the election process,or is it more of a pragmatic decision?
**IS:** I think it’s a mix of both. On one hand, the team’s statement that ”winning and losing is a common thing” reflects a mature approach to democracy.This is crucial in a country like Indonesia, where regional elections are a cornerstone of the political system.
However, it’s also pragmatic.Filing a lawsuit would have required considerable resources, time, and political capital. the team might have concluded that focusing on future opportunities—whether in Jakarta or elsewhere—would be more beneficial than engaging in a protracted legal battle.
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#### **SE:** The Indonesian developed Coalition (KIM) Plus supported Ridwan Kamil and Suswono’s candidacy. Do you think this decision affects the coalition’s influence in future elections?
**IS:** The KIM Plus coalition remains a significant player in Indonesian politics, but this decision does raise questions about its strategy. By not challenging the results, the coalition avoids potential backlash from voters who might view a lawsuit as sour grapes.
At the same time, this decision allows the coalition to maintain its reputation for integrity and sportsmanship. In the long run, this could strengthen its position in future elections, as voters tend to respect candidates and coalitions that accept defeat gracefully.
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#### **SE:** The Jakarta Election Commission declared Pramono Anung and Rano Karno as the winners with 50.07% of the votes. Do you think this margin of victory played a role in the Ridwan-Suswono team’s decision?
**IS:** Absolutely.A margin of just over 10 percentage points is significant, but it’s not insurmountable. However, in the context of Indonesia’s election laws and the Constitutional Court’s track record, overturning such a result would have been extremely challenging.
The Constitutional Court is generally cautious about invalidating election results, especially when the margin is this substantial. The Ridwan-Suswono team likely recognized this and decided that the risks of pursuing a lawsuit outweighed the potential benefits.
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#### **SE:** what do you think this decision means for the future of Ridwan Kamil’s political career?
**IS:** Ridwan Kamil is a rising star in Indonesian politics,and this decision will likely enhance his reputation. By not challenging the results, he demonstrates maturity and a commitment to democratic principles. This is crucial in a country where regional leaders are frequently enough judged not just by their policies but also by their conduct.
Moreover, this decision allows Kamil to focus on his current role as the Governor of west Java, where he has been making significant strides.By maintaining a positive image, he positions himself well for future opportunities, whether in Jakarta or at the national level.
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#### **SE:** Dr. Setiawan, thank you for yoru insights. This decision by the Ridwan-Suswono team has certainly provided a valuable lesson in political strategy and democratic maturity.
**IS:** Thank you for the opportunity to discuss this important topic.
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This interview highlights the strategic and political considerations behind the Ridwan Kamil-Suswono team’s decision not to challenge the Jakarta election results. It also underscores the importance of accepting election outcomes in a democratic society.
