Eka Yudha Saputra and Ima Dini Shafira, Jakarta – West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil on Wednesday said that he will not run for the 2024 Presidential Election and determined that he would focus on running as an incumbent in the future gubernatorial election.
According to Ridwan Kamil, he decided not to advance as a presidential candidate following the previous decision of the political party which endorses him, the Golkar Party. As a new member, he said, he would respect Golkar's decision to appoint Airlangga Hartarto as a presidential candidate.
"As a new member of the Paty, I surely should know my place. I will adhere to an existing decision the Party took in supporting Airlangga," said Ridwan Kamil as he visited Tempo headquarters on March 29.
In regards to results shown by political pollsters that include him as one the four most popular political figures in favor of becoming a presidential candidate in the 2024 presidential election, he said popularity is an aspect he cannot run away from.
The governor believes it is mainly due to his hard work as a regional leader over the past decade. "I've been doing community service work for 10 years. So, all the popularity can't be avoided," said Ridwan Kamil.