- 24/07/2024
- Category: Press Release
Yogyakarta, July 18, 2024 – The trend of entertainers getting involved in politics seems to be becoming more prevalent as the 2024 Regional Elections approach. Starting with Rano Karno’s entry into the political arena, many artists, influencers, and other key opinion leaders (KOL) are now running for political positions, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to this phenomenon, CfDS, in #Desus 14 titled “2024 Regional Elections: The Rise of Political Pragmatism,” discussed the development of this trend in Indonesia. Moh. Hafiz Noer (Head of Research CfDS) was the speaker on this occasion, moderated by Iradat Wirid (Deputy Secretary Executive CfDS). The discussion can be viewed through the following link: https://www.youtube.com/live/EPI5SnEDmj4
The Phenomenon of Celebrities Entering Politics
In the 2024 Regional Elections, Hafiz observed the trend of influencers and comedians running for political positions. However, this trend does not align with the capabilities of these figures, as many are not running in their respective hometowns. This creates a negative precedent for Indonesian politics, highlighting the weakness of the internal cadre system in political parties. “Political parties often choose artists or influencers to quickly gain votes. This phenomenon indicates that these celebrities are merely used as ‘vote-getters,'” Hafiz explained.
Hafiz emphasized that political parties in Indonesia tend to be pragmatic and catch-all, meaning many of them resort to any means necessary in their internal cadre recruitment. These parties do not have a specific target audience. They attempt to attract support from various societal groups without clear ideologies or constituent bases. Nevertheless, some parties still conduct proper internal cadre recruitment, although this process is not always sufficient to garner broad public support in Indonesia. Consequently, many political parties frequently use celebrities as an additional “booster” to attract votes.
Political Pragmatism and Its Solutions
Social media plays a significant role in shaping public opinion about public figures entering politics. It heavily influences the discourse surrounding the candidacy of certain influencers. The public often judges political candidates based on how their lives are presented, both through captions and content. Social media can shape public sentiment, both positively and negatively, towards certain candidates. However, the public must be more critical when consuming information from social media to understand the biases in the news.
Hafiz also explained solutions to address political pragmatism. Political parties should focus on internal cadre recruitment and political education. They must avoid shortcuts to gain votes through popularity. “Civil society must be critical of the candidacy of certain influencers. It should be noted that higher education does not always guarantee critical thinking on political issues. The public needs to examine the background, track record, and capabilities of candidates before voting. This way, we can overcome political pragmatism by electing the most competent leaders,” Hafiz concluded his discussion.
Writer: Muhammad Alfasya Syabil Sholatar
Editor: Allysa Putri Rendry
