The Saiful Mujani Research Center (SMRC) released a survey report on the presidential candidate preferences of supporters of the 212 Action.
"The 212 Movement has a significant effect on the presidential election," said SMRC founder Saiful Mujani in an online press conference on Thursday (September 21, 2023).
The 212 Action is a title for a series of demonstrations initially organized by several Islamic community organizations in 2016, and which have continued to the present day.
The actions were triggered by allegations of blasphemy against Islam committed by the then-Governor of Jakarta, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, also known as Ahok.
One of the figures who led the rallies demanding Ahok's imprisonment for blasphemy during the 212 Action was Rizieq Syihab from the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI).
According to the SMRC survey, of 4,260 respondents, 38% supported the 212 Action, while 51.6% disagreed with the movement.
Among respondents who supported the 212 Action, Anies Baswedan received the highest support at 42%, followed by Prabowo at 35%, and Ganjar Pranowo at only 18%.
"This is as expected. So, supporters of the 212 Action, if they don't choose Anies, will choose Prabowo," said Saiful.
SMRC also conducted a head-to-head presidential election simulation with two candidates, Prabowo and Ganjar. The results showed that 59% of respondents supporting the 212 Action chose Prabowo, and 29% chose Ganjar.
According to Saiful, some of the 212 Action supporters who voted for Prabowo in the 2019 Presidential Election remain loyal. However, Prabowo is predicted not to openly show his closeness to this group.
"He (Prabowo) will not explicitly show his closeness to the 212 Movement masses, hoping for additional support from Jokowi's voters or supporters," he explained.
This national SMRC survey involved 4,260 respondents selected randomly (stratified multistage random sampling).
Data collection was conducted from July 31 to August 11, 2023, through face-to-face interviews. The survey has a margin of error of approximately 1.65% and a confidence level of 95%.
(Read also: [Which Party is the Strongest in Prabowo's Coalition?](https://databoks.katadata.co.id/datapublish/2023/09/22/siapa-partai-terkuat-di-koalisi-prabowo))