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PKS calls for opposition to be 'constructive' critics to Jokowi’s government
“Whether we are within or outside the government [coalition], we will have the same virtue as long as we have the steadfast intention of fighting for the people,” he went on.
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Ali Mardani Sera. (Tempo/Rezki Alvionitasari.)
W
ith the official end to the presidential election dispute, the opposition Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) called for the coalition supporting presidential election challenger Prabowo Subianto to play a role in providing "constructive criticism" to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s administration.
Following the Constitutional Court ruling that rejected the Prabowo ticket’s legal challenge to Jokowi’s electoral victory in 2019 election, PKS executive Mardani Ali Sera issued a statement acknowledging that the incumbent had won the election and was on course to continue his second term.
“The time has come for us to come together and become an opposition that provides constructive criticism as the balancing power to the government,” Mardani said in a statement on Friday.
“Whether we are within or outside the government [coalition], we will have the same virtue as long as we have the steadfast intention of fighting for the people,” he went on.
Mardani said the Prabowo-Sandiaga Uno coalition, called the Fair and Prosperous Coalition, should continue and be critical of the government, so as to ensure that all development programs were truly intended for the people.
The PKS was one of four major political parties supporting Prabowo and Sandiaga’s candidacy in the 2019 presidential election, alongside the Prabowo-led Gerindra Party, the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the Democratic Party.
However, after the Constitutional Court rejected on Thursday a petition filed by the Prabowo camp — which alleged massive electoral fraud in the presidential race — speculation is rife that the coalition is on the brink of being disbanded.
Some parties in the coalition, including the Democrats and PAN, appear to be detaching themselves from the camp, with their executives opening the possibility of joining the government’s coalition. (afr)
