Budiarti Utami Putri, Jakarta – Golkar Party senior politician Agun Gunandjar Sudarsa was openly worried about his party's internal dynamics in the wake of Golkar's national deliberation in December. Agun argues that the two candidates, Airlangga Hartarto and Bambang Soesatyo are merely competing in pragmatic terms.

He maintains that the two candidates lack the vision to readdress Golkar Party as a vessel for ideas and party cadres. Agun forecasts that, if things stay the same, Golkar would be a backmarker in the 2024 general elections.

"Don't let Golkar be slumped in 2024. I analogize it as a dinosaur on the verge of extinction," said Agun to Tempo last weekend.

Agun said Golkar would be in shambles if they can only manage to attract votes that would lead them to rank fifth or sixth, from a party that used to be a contender in top votes. He also mentioned the party's tendencies to lose votes since 2004.

Golkar saw itself managing to attract 12.31 percent votes in 2019's legislative election, which is a drop compared to 2014 with 14.75 percent, and 21.58 percent in the 2004 legislative election.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1268095/fear-of-dinosaur-like-extinction-looms-over-golkar-party-senior