TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Analysis: For or against a Prabowo presidency without opposition?
Change text size
Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto attended the inaugural working meeting with the DPR's Commission I at the Senayan Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Monday (11/11/2019). A working meeting between the DPR and the Ministry of Defense (Kemhan) discussed the 2020 Ministry of Defense work plan and its budget support (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)
P
oliticians capitalized on Idul Fitri holiday last week to embark on silaturahmi (kinship) visits in the name of coalition building. This year, Prabowo Subianto paid visits to key allies while talks of an imminent meeting between the president-elect and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) matriarch Megawati Soekarnoputri have spread.
In a bid to foster unity amongst the members of his alliance, Prabowo went on a political safari that included, among other activities, sharing a meal with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and First Lady Iriana at the Merdeka Palace as well as attending the private gatherings of Golkar Party leader Airlangga Hartarto, Golkar advisory board chair Aburizal Bakrie, National Mandate Party (PAN) chief Zulkifli Hasan, Gerindra Party executive Sufmi Dasco Ahmad and visiting the private residence of former president Susilo Bambang Yudhyono of the Democratic Party.
The Feb. 14 presidential election results, which saw Prabowo and his running mate, President Jokowi’s eldest son Gibran Rakabumnig Raka, win by landslide, are currently being disputed at the Constitutional Court. Aside from Jokowi’s endorsement, Prabowo and Gibran’s victory was attributed to the nine-party coalition, consisting of Gerindra, Golkar, PAN, the Democrats, the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) and other smaller parties, including the Crescent Moon Party (PBB), the Gelora Party, the Garuda Party and the Prima Party. With many supporters to appease, it must be important for Prabowo to consolidate the members of the Indonesia Onward Coalition (KIM) as they will make up the incoming administration once Prabowo is inaugurated in October.
Prabowo’s grasp on the House of Representatives has yet to be determined, however. Only Gerindra and three other pro-Prabowo parties obtained enough votes to enter the legislature, while the PDI-P won the popular vote in the 2024 legislative race, despite its presidential ticket, Ganjar Pranowo and Mahfud MD, losing the presidential race.
Even though the PDI-P has been touted as a potential opposition party to the Prabowo presidency, a stance it has ample experience with considering the 10 years the party spent as an opposition to Yudhyono’s presidency, Prabowo is trying to lobby the biggest party.
Representatives of both Gerindra and the PDI-P have reiterated that the two parties and their leaders continue to maintain communications despite being rivals during the elections. Gibran also confirmed this himself recently, adding that discussions were underway. Moreover, Prabowo’s campaign manager Rosan Roeslani recently met with Megawati on two separate occasions, signaling a meeting between the two party leaders is imminent.
Gerindra and Golkar politicians have welcomed the idea of joining hands with the PDI-P. According to Golkar deputy chairman Bambang Soesatyo, having all political parties join Prabowo’s coalition would allow the incoming government to function well, arguing that the next administration must continue to embrace the spirit of gotong royong (mutual cooperation). PAN chairman Zulkifli concurred, adding that a government would be more efficient and effective without an opposition force.
