"The outcome was the opposite of what was expected. Instead of the votes increasing, their count dropped in comparison with that in the 2014 presidential election," he remarked.
Padang, West Sumatra (ANTARA) -
Andalas University (Unand) political observer Edi Indrizal believes ideological, sociological, cultural, and psychological factors led to presidential candidate Joko Widodo (Jokowi) tasting defeat in the 2019 presidential election in West Sumatra.

"These factors are interrelated, thereby shaping the overall outlook of the people in making their choice," he noted in Padang on Tuesday.

Indrizal pointed out that despite 12 regional heads in West Sumatra openly declaring support to the Jokowi-Maruf Amin pair in the 2019 Presidential Election, the strategy was evidently flawed.

"The outcome was the opposite of what was expected. Instead of the votes increasing, their count dropped in comparison with that in the 2014 presidential election," he remarked.

According to the observer, the strategy employed by a success team in West Sumatra to ensure Jokowi's victory failed to tackle the problem that arose.

Speaking in connection with the ideological issue, Indrizal noticed that since the start, the PDIP, as a party supporting Jokowi, found it challenging to cement a voter base in West Sumatra.

Thereafter, through the pluralistic polarization approach, Jokowi in West Sumatra dominantly secured votes in Dharmasraya where transmigrants from Java reside.

The observer stated that taking into account the psychological aspect, it was believed that this was a great and rational choice.

Such voting behavior is not only witnessed in Indonesia but also in developed nations, including the United States, so it cannot be narrowed down to being a rational or irrational issue.

Moreover, the rampant rise in the use of social media has also influenced the voter's mindset to opt for Prabowo in West Sumatra.

Earlier, nearly 12 regional heads in West Sumatra had voiced their support for presidential candidate number 01 Jokowi-Amin during the Jokowi-Ma'ruf team campaign at Lake Cimpago, Padang, (Apr 9).

The 12 district heads and mayors declaring support comprised Pesisir Selatan District Head Hendrajoni, Dharmasraya District Head Sutan Riska, Pasaman District Head Yusuf Lubis, Tanah Datar District Head Irdinansyah Tarmizi, Sijunjung District Head Yuswir Arifin, Mentawai District Head Yudas Sabaggalet, Fifty City District Head Irfendi Arbi, and Solok Gusmal district head.

Mayor of Padang Panjang Fadly Amran, Mayor of Bukittinggi Ramlan Nurmatias, Mayor of Solok Irzal, and Mayor of Pariaman Genius Umar had also voiced their support for Jokowi-Amin.

Despite all this, the quick count result of Charta Politika showed the Jokowi-Maruf Amin pair only bagging 12.37 percent of the votes and losing to Prabowo-Sandi, who secured 87.63 percent of the votes.

EDITED BY INE

Translator: Eliswan Azly
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2019