Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – The founder of Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC), Saiful Mujani, mentioned that the approval rating towards Joko Widodo (Jokowi) influenced Prabowo Subianto's victory in the 2024 Presidential Election. Prabowo was paired with Jokowi's eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, against the pairs of Anies-Muhaimin and Ganjar-Mahfud.
"If the incumbent supports one of the candidates, then their approval rating will strengthen the supported candidate," he said in a discussion via SMRC TV YouTube channel on Saturday, October 26, 2024.
Previously, SMRC found that the approval rating towards Jokowi reached 79 percent. "The benefits of approval rating are clear, for predicting and understanding who will win in the Presidential Election. That's the approval rating," he said.
In measuring approval rating, he said, there are rational aspects and psychological aspects. The rational aspect focuses on achievements and performance, such as economic conditions, infrastructure development, law enforcement, and anti-corruption performance.
Meanwhile, psychological aspects include liking or disliking Jokowi's behavior. Then, how he speaks, greets, delivers speeches, and even his habits of giving out rice, t-shirts, or money.
As soon as Jokowi supported Prabowo-Gibran in the 2024 Presidential Election, his approval rating also contributed to the victory of the number two pair. "He (Jokowi) was re-elected in 2019, and when he supported Prabowo, Prabowo won because his approval rating (Jokowi) was high," said Saiful.
He continued, approval rating is a way to simplify a very complicated assessment. According to him, the general public with less education cannot calculate all assessment aspects in detail. Yet, even those who completely do not understand still have the right to vote.
That complexity eventually influenced the electability of Prabowo-Gibran, candidates supported by Jokowi. If Jokowi's approval rating is low, said Saiful, Prabowo's chances of winning will be difficult.
"That's right, how Jokowi's 79 percent approval rating can help Prabowo win. If Jokowi's approval rating is only 50 percent, it will be difficult for Prabowo to win, relying on support from Jokowi," he said.