Airlangga: Political Parties Support Major Coalition
The grand coalition is open to all political parties. However, Golkar reminded political parties to follow the rules of the game in forming coalitions.
Golkar Party Chairperson Airlangga Hartarto (center) gives a statement to the media after receiving a visit from the leadership of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) at the Golkar DPP Office, Jakarta, Wednesday (12/4/2023).
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Maneuvers among the political party elites looking to form a major coalition are continuing, not only involving those from the already established United Indonesia Coalition and the Greater Indonesia Awakening Coalition, but also representatives of several non-parliamentary parties. They are actively communicating in support of a major coalition.
At the Golkar Party headquarters in Jakarta on Wednesday (12/4/2023), party chairman Airlangga Hartarto, accompanied by several of his aides, received Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) chairman Giring Ganesha and advisory board deputy chairperson Grace Natalie.
Following the meeting, which lasted about 45 minutes, Airlangga told reporters that the PSI had expressed support for the formation of a grand coalition. Similar support was also given by the Indonesian Unity Party (Perindo) during a meeting on Monday (10/4). He said the more support there was, the more likely the idea was to be realized.
Believing that more political parties would follow suit over the idea of a major coalition, he emphasized that Golkar was open to any political party wanting to join the planned coalition.
Giring said the PSI supported the coalition in the hope that, if realized as planned, it could help ensure the continuation of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo's work by the next administration.
The coalition would also be expected, Grace said, to support Ganjar Pranowo as the presidential candidate for the 2024 elections. The PSI had previously announced its choice of the Central Java governor to run for the election.
Airlangga’s Golkar has built an alliance, called the United Indonesia Coalition.
The idea about a major coalition was first put forward by Airlangga at the end of March. It resurfaced when President Jokowi met with leaders of political parties from two different coalitions. Airlangga’s Golkar has built an alliance, called the United Indonesia Coalition, with the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the United Development Party (PPP). On the other side, the Gerindra Party and the Nation Awakening Party (PKB) have formed the Great Indonesia Awakening Coalition.
Communication among the political party elites was not only seen at the Golkar office. Last week, Crescent Star Party (PBB), Perindo, PAN and PKB leaders also visited the residence of Gerindra chairman Prabowo Subianto. Airlangga also met with Prabowo on Tuesday (11/4).
DOKUMENTASI HUMAS PAN
(From left) General Chair of the PKB Muhaimin Iskandar, General Chair of the Gerindra Party Prabowo Subianto, President Joko Widodo, General Chair of the Golkar Party Airlangga Hartarto, General Chair of PAN Zulkifli Hasan, and Acting General Chair of PPP Mardiono attending the Ramadhan Gathering at the PAN DPP Office, Jakarta, Sunday (2/4/2023).
Presidential candidate
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) denied reports that party chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri had decided to nominate Ganjar Pranowo as its presidential candidate for 2024. Public speculation was based on the latest developments. During her visit to the PDI-P School in Jakarta five days ago, Megawati alluded to the presidential nomination in front of House of Representatives’ members from the PDI-P faction.
Hendrawan Supratikno, a senior politician who is also a House member from the PDI-P faction, said the issue of nomination was touched again by Megawati when she briefed the party’s House members on 8 April. “The chairperson spoke about it in general. She did not mention specific names. It’s more about ideological and motivational guidance," he said.
Back in January, Megawati raised the issue of the presidential candidate in front of party cadres during the PDI-P's 50th anniversary.
While emphasizing that the party would pitch its own cadre as the presidential candidate, Megawati somehow tried to affirm the need to have candidate with the best prospects to win when she said that she would assure herself not to canter the party to a “well”.
“It is that [our presidential candidate] must win,” Hendrawan said. Given the results of recent surveys and grassroots’ aspirations, he said, people had begun to speculate that Megawati was leaning toward Ganjar Pranowo for 2024.
Ibu Mega usually uses historical settings and sends meaningful messages for important moments.
PDI-P secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto said Megawati had yet to mention a name to be endorsed by the PDI-P as its presidential candidate. He dismissed reports that Megawati had endorsed Ganjar. ”When was it? Empirically, Ibu Mega usually uses historical settings and sends meaningful messages for important moments, especially when they are decisive for the future of the nation and the state," he said.
Charta Politika executive director Yunarto Wijaya said Ganjar's chance of winning presidential ticket from the PDI-P had increased lately given the similar political stance by both Ganjar and Megawati in their rejection to Israel’s participation in the Under-20 World Cup. “It proves his loyalty to the party.”
