Despite remaining at loggerheads about the possibility of opposition forces joining the government, parties backing President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and those supporting his longtime rival Prabowo Subianto may join forces in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), as the winner in April’s legislative elections, has said that, although it could, it would not race to get the MPR speaker post, thereby opened up the possibility of forming an alliance with Prabowo’s Gerindra Party for leadership of the legislative body.

The MPR is a bicameral assembly that comprises members from both the House of Representatives (DPR) and the Regional Representatives Council (DPD). Although the assembly is not involved much in legislation, it has strategic authorities, including to inaugurate and impeach president and vice president and to amend the Constitution.  

PDI-P deputy secretary-general Ahmad Basarah, currently an MPR deputy speaker, said the party was hoping to form an MPR leadership (speaker and deputy speakers) that would include all political parties represented in the House.

“So that there is no longer a Jokowi faction or a Prabowo faction. All are expected to merge into [one package] composition, so that the MPR leadership represents the national political spectrum," Ahmad said on Thursday.

Unlike the House speakership, which by law goes to the five political parties with most votes in a legislative election, the Legislative Institutions (MD3) Law mandates that the MPR speakership is determined through voting, in which each political party and DPD faction can propose a set of five candidates in a package that will be voted on in the forum.

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