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PKS stands firm as lone opposition as Dems, PAN waver
Three of the nine major political parties had not been included in the new administration: the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the Democratic Party and the National Mandate Party (PAN).
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The Indonesia Onward Cabinet on Wednesday. (JP/Seto Wardhana)
W
hen President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo announced the lineup of his second-term Cabinet on Wednesday, political observers pointed out that the President may have decided to keep his enemies closer with the naming of his rival in the election, Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto, as defense minister.
The unveiling also showed that three of the nine major political parties had not been included in the new administration: the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the Democratic Party and the National Mandate Party (PAN).
The three parties obtained only 148 of the total 575 seats in the House of Representatives, with the Dems getting 54 seats, the PKS 50 seats and PAN 44. In contrast, the ruling coalition, which includes the newly joined Gerindra, controls 427 seats in the legislature, or around 74.26 percent.
Of the three, only the PKS is determined to continue its role as an opposition party.
The Dems and PAN, on the other hand, have shown signs of joining the government coalition with discussions being held between their leaders and Jokowi prior to the Cabinet announcement. However, no agreement was reached in the meetings.
PKS executive Mardani Ali Sera said the current power balance between the government coalition and opposition was “unhealthy” for democracy, referring to the 427:148 ratio in the legislative.
"This is a wake-up call about the quality of our democracy," Mardani said.
