Political Parties Remain Indecisive, Coalitions not yet Fixed

The political parties appear to be indecisive because they are considering their position in the outcome of the election. Explorations are being carried out as part of efforts to form a party cartel.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

PDI-P DPP Chair Puan Maharani (left) with the General Chair of the Nasdem Party Surya Paloh (right) after their meeting at Nasdem Tower, Jakarta, Monday (22/8/2022).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - Political parties still appear to be indecisive over building political power to contest the 2024 presidential election. As of now, political parties that have yet to form coalitions are still exploring their options, but political parties that are already in an alliance are doing the same. This may be because political parties want to ensure that they’ve secured a position that will allow them to influence government policies after the election.

After the Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Puan Maharani met with Nasdem Party chairman Surya Paloh on Monday, Golkar Party chairman Airlangga Hartarto then met with Indonesia Solidarity Party (PSI) chairman Giring Ganesha on Tuesday night at Golkar’s central executive board (DPP) office. They discussed economic, social and political issues.

Although Golkar has joined the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the United Development Party (PPP) to form the United Indonesia Coalition (KIB), the party continues to communicate with other political parties. When met at the State Palace in Jakarta, Airlangga conveyed that the KIB was still open to other political parties.

“The coalition is inclusive and ready to involve other [political parties],” he said.

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Airlangga also admitted that his meeting with the PSI marked the beginning of a joint effort to contest the 2024 general elections. Relations between the two political parties were built because they had much in common, such as their support for President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.

Both political parties want Jokowi’s programs and policies to be carried on by the next president and vice president. Additionally, both Golkar and the PSI want to prevent identity politics.

The KIB scheduled meetings with other political parties, particularly government supporters. According to the PPP chairman Suharso Monoarfa, an exploration of other political parties will be carried out in the near future. The three members of the KIB—Golkar, PPP and PAN—will coordinate to determine which political party will be explored first.

Other than the KIB, the Gerindra Party-National Awakening Party (PKB) coalition is also still open for other political parties to join. “For Gerindra, there is no single party that we consider an opponent. We are open to all [parties],” said Gerindra deputy chairman Habiburokhman.

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

General Chairperson of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) DPP Giring Ganesha (right) and General Chairperson of the Golkar Party Airlangga Hartarto held a press conference after the meeting at the Golkar Party Office, West Jakarta, Tuesday (23/8/2022).

Nonetheless, Gerindra also knows that finding coalition partners is no easy task. Apart from having a shared vision and mission, all political parties must calculate their strengths, such as determining the presidential and vice-presidential candidates they’re looking to endorse. “To form a coalition, you must complement each other. Of course, it takes time,” said Habiburokhman.

Explorations have also been carried out by political parties that have yet to form alliances, such as the PDI-P. After meeting with the Nasdem Party, the PDI-P will visit other parties, such as Gerindra, Golkar, the PKB, PPP and PAN. According to PDI-P Secretary-General Hasto Kristiyanto, the PDI-P has a meeting with Gerindra in the near future.

Confirming the outcome

National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) political researcher Wasisto Raharjo Jati said that political parties appear to be indecisive because they are considering their position in the outcome of the election. Explorations are being carried out as part of efforts to form a party cartel.

“The cartel aims to bring together the remaining parliamentary and non-parliamentary parties to ensure that the candidate they endorse receives full support. Thus, even if their candidate loses, they can still influence the legislative process,” he said.

Political parties are not brave enough to take chances because the presidential election will be held at the same time as the legislative elections. The regional head elections will also be held in the same year. “The 2024 elections are highly uncertain because everything is happening at the same time,” he said.

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Wasisto estimates that political parties will continue their explorations until they are satisfied and confident with the political power they have built. It is predicted that a permanent coalition might only be formed ahead of the registration of the presidential and vice-presidential candidates in September 2023.

According to Wasisto, at least three coalition axes will emerge in the 2024 presidential election. In addition to the KIB and the Gerindra-PKB coalition, the PDI-P may also form a coalition with other political parties.

To this day, no coalition has determined the presidential and vice-presidential pair that they will endorse. Although the KIB has discussed it often, they have yet to agree on a candidate pair.

The Gerindra-PKB coalition has not yet determined the candidate pair they will support either. In fact, both parties sought to support their respective chairman, namely Prabowo Subianto and Muhaimin Iskandar, as presidential candidates. On the other hand, the Nasdem Party, which has named three presidential candidates that they’re willing to support, namely Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo and TNI commander Gen. Andika Perkasa, has yet to form a coalition.

This article was translated by Kesya Adhalia.