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Prabowo ‘grows impatient’ while courting PDI-P
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President-elect Prabowo Subianto waves to the media on April 24, 2024, as he arrives at the plenary session of the General Elections Commission (KPU) after challenges to his election victory were rejected, at the KPU office in Jakarta. (AFP/Yasuyoshi CHIBA)
P
resident-elect Prabowo Subianto’s recent comments about Sukarno point to a “growing impatience” in his efforts to court the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) as a stabilizing force for the incoming government, analysts contend.
After a series of efforts to lure political parties from rival camps into his governing coalition, Prabowo, in an internal event hosted by a coalition member last week, took an unexpected swipe at the PDI-P, which has not yet decided on whether to join the coalition or become an opposition force.
"One party has claimed ownership of Sukarno, and I say no, he belongs to us all. And I get the feeling that he would have endorsed me. Whatever he aspired to – that Indonesia should stand on its own feet, that Indonesia should not be the lifeblood of other nations – that's what I have been fighting for," he said, alluding to the PDI-P.
In the same speech during the event hosted by the pro-Prabowo National Mandate Party (PAN), Prabowo appeared to give an early warning to his rivals to refrain from hindering his administration from doing its work.
"For those who don't want to join us, that's fine. If they want to see the show from the side of the road, please be good viewers. But for those who don't want to work with us, don't disturb us," he said.
Since his victory, Prabowo, who chairs Gerindra Party, has been reaching out to parties from rival camps to assemble a big coalition and command a majority in the House of Representatives, which could help him accelerate his legislative agenda and form a stable government.
Read also: ‘You don't have to join us, but don't disturb our work,’ Prabowo tells opposition
