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PKS may become last bulwark of government opposition
The conservative party may find it difficult to join the nationalist-leaning government that will be formed by Joko "Jokowi" Widodo
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A plenary room at the House of Representatives. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)
T
he Islam-based Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) has seen an increase in the votes it has attained in the legislative election, but critics have doubted that it is enough to keep its role as an opposition.
The religious conservative party won 8.2 percent of the vote in April, according to the General Elections Commission (KPU), more than the 6.8 percent it obtained five years ago, indicating that it would secure more seats at the House of Representatives.
Yet, unlike the 2014 election, the party may not control House leadership or lead any commissions due to the new law regulating the legislative body.
According to the Legislative Institutions (MD3) Law, the House speaker post and the other four House deputy speaker seats must be filled by the five political parties with the largest number of votes gathered in April.
Among lawmakers, the House speakership is considered strategic as it is the highest decision maker in the legislative body. Currently, the PKS’ position as a government critic is strengthened by the deputy speaker post occupied by its member Fahri Hamzah.
The party has opposed deliberation of the sexual violence bill, as well as supporting efforts to criminalize adultery and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
“We have wholeheartedly accepted that we won’t get any seats on the leadership board, because it’s all that we can get. We’re not among the fifth biggest parties,” PKS faction chairman Jazuli Juwaini said on Thursday.
