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Nasdem, PKS agree to become more critical of Jokowi administration
Nasdem and PKS said they would "strengthen the checks and balances" on government policies.
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Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan (left) and NasDem Party chairman Surya Paloh (right) speak to reporters at the NasDem headquarters in Central Jakarta. (kompas.com/Ryana Aryadita Umasugi)
A
s political parties are getting ready to seek new presidential candidates for the 2024 general election, the Nasdem Party, a government ally, has agreed to work with the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the only party that has declared itself in opposition to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo's administration.
Gaining more votes in the April legislative election than five years ago, the party, which is led by media mogul Surya Paloh, has found itself at odds with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the legislature race winner, ever since the leader of the ruling coalition decided to open a way for the Gerindra Party, formerly a major opposition party, to enter the government coalition.
Nasdem still secured three Cabinet posts in the newly installed Jokowi administration, but that will not stop the party from communicating with PKS.
Surya met with PKS chairman Sohibul Iman on Wednesday at the PKS’ headquarters in the TB Simatupang area in South Jakarta. During a closed-door meeting, the two party leaders agreed to further cooperation and opened the opportunity to form a coalition in the future, despite the current differences.
The two party leaders were seen hugging each other several times on the occasion.
Surya said after the meeting that the NasDem Party would still be a government supporter. However, he said that would not mean it would not criticize the Jokowi-Ma'ruf Amin administration, explaining that a healthy democracy needed checks and balances.
"It's not a matter that there will be a possibility of [us] opposing the government. All the possibilities are there," Surya said on Wednesday.
