Inaugurate Budi Arie as Minister of Communication and Informatics, Observer: Jokowi Signs Support Prabowo

BONSERNEWS.com – Head of Pro-Jokowi Volunteers (Projo), Budi Arie Setiadi, was officially appointed by President Jokowi to become Minister of Communication and Informatics.

IndoStrategic Executive Director Ahmad Khoirul Umam believes Jokowi’s decision has something to do with the direction of support for the 2024 presidential candidate.

“Observing the results of this reshuffle, it means Jokowi has officially cut 1 ministerial share from NasDem. This is a political sanction as well as a consequence of the NasDem struggle in fighting for a narrative of change and running for Anies Baswedan,” said Umam, Tuesday 18 July 2023.

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Umam thinks that Jokowi gave a large portion to his volunteer group for Budi’s appointment. In fact, according to him, Projo himself was accused by the PDIP of being ‘just a small offshoot’ from Jokowi’s volunteer network who was not registered as part of the volunteers for the winning candidate for presidential election candidate for PDIP, Ganjar Pranowo.

“In fact, recently Projo himself has often shown his closeness to the Gerindra Party presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto,” he said.

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Umam referred to the Musra results which placed Prabowo as the first choice candidate with 20%, followed by Ganjar with 19%, and Airlangga Hartarto with 12.5%. In this regard, Umam believes that Jokowi has given great power to his volunteers who are now seen to be close to Prabowo.

“This seems to further confirm that Jokowi’s political preferences are indeed more towards Prabowo Subianto, rather than his party partner Ganjar Pranowo,” he said.

The lecturer in Political Science and International Studies at Paramadina University assessed Budi’s position at the strategic information technology ministry post to regulate cyberspace so that he could optimize pro-government narratives.

“The ‘additional’ advantage of having Ketum Projo as the Minister of Communication and Informatics aside from accommodating volunteers and strengthening signals of support for Prabowo, the role of the Minister of Communication and Informatics is also very important in orderling Indonesia’s cyber space. So that the orchestration of pro-government issues and narratives can be optimized,” he said.

“And steps to eliminate attacks by political rivals can be made effective ahead of the 2024 elections, so that ‘stability’ is maintained according to the tastes of the existing power,” he added. ()