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Parties weigh divergent paths as KIB faces risk of dissolution
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Three in one: (From left) National Mandate Party (PAN) chair Zulkifli Hasan, Golkar Party chair Airlangga Hartarto and United Development Party (PPP) chair Suharso Monoarfa link arms after registering their parties’ joint participation in the 2024 elections with the General Elections Commission (KPU) in Jakarta on Aug. 10, 2022. The three parties are grouped under the United Indonesia Coalition (KIB). (Antara/Aprillio Akbar)
The United Indonesia Coalition (KIB) is facing the risk of splitting apart as its three members struggle to coalesce on a unified presidential candidate and begin to explore divergent paths for next year's election.
Since its debut last year as the first electoral alliance to be formed ahead of the election, the KIB has been struggling to find its direction because Golkar Party, the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the United Development Party (PPP) have no strong name to match frontrunners in public opinion polls.
The future of the alliance came into question in late April after PPP threw its support behind the presidential bid of popular Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo and his Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the ruling party to which President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo belongs.
Last month, PPP called for the dissolution of the KIB if members cannot agree on backing Ganjar’s presidential run.
And most recently, the Muslim-based pro-government party, together with PDI-P and non-legislature Hanura Party, established a volunteer group headquarters for Ganjar’s presidential run in Jakarta on Thursday. They seek to work with grassroots supporters to help Ganjar reclaim his polling lead for next year's election after some of Jokowi's loyal supporter groups threw their support behind Ganjar's likely opponent Prabowo Subianto of Gerindra Party.
Following PPP’s lead, PAN began exploratory talks with the PDI-P on Friday, when PAN chairman Zulkifli Hasan visited PDI-P counterpart Megawati Soekarnoputri and discussed behind closed doors their potential cooperation in the upcoming election.
Both PAN and PDI-P however left Friday's meeting without a “final agreement” despite swirling rumors earlier that day PAN would announce its full support for Ganjar’s nomination.
