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PKS teams up with Soeharto-clan party to counter Jokowi coalition
PKS chairman Sohibul Iman said that although the Berkarya Party did not make it to the House of Representatives, the PKS still needed its support to strengthen what he called "a pressure group against the government".
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Stronger together: Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) chairman Sohibul Iman (left) shakes hands with Berkarya Party chairman Hutomo Mandala Putra after their meeting at the PKS headquarters in Jakarta on Tuesday.
(Antara Foto /Sigid Kurniawan)
T
he Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) knows that being the sole opposition party to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo's administration is a huge political risk, therefore, the Islamic party has joined forces with the Berkarya Party – led by the children of former president Soeharto – to form a stronger power outside the government.
Soeharto’s youngest son, Hutomo Mandala Putra, better known as Tommy Soeharto, is the Berkarya Party founder and chairman. Meanwhile, his sister, Siti "Titiek" Hediati Hariyadi chairs the party’s advisory board.
The PKS welcomed Tommy, Titiek and Berkarya Party executives to its headquarters in the TB Simatupang area of South Jakarta on Tuesday.
After the one-hour meeting, the two parties agreed to be "an alternative voice amid the consolidated political power" now that their former ally the Gerindra Party had joined the government.
Gerindra chairman Prabowo Subianto – Titiek’s ex-husband – serves as defense minister in Jokowi’s Cabinet, alongside the party’s deputy chairman Edhy Prabowo as maritime affairs and fisheries minister.
PKS chairman Sohibul Iman said that although the Berkarya Party did not make it to the House of Representatives, the PKS still needed its support to strengthen what he called "a pressure group against the government".
"Sure, Berkarya doesn't have a representative at the House, but as a political party it has the right to speak for and support the parties outside the government. That's what we need from the party," Sohibul said.
