Prabowo-Gibran camp has different opinions, Democrats consider important "friends" for debate in parliament

A number of parties supporting Prabowo-Gibran are of the view that "friends" debating in parliament is still necessary.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

The Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka pair joked around with the chairs of supporting political parties and their campaign teams during the Open Plenary Meeting to Determine the Elected Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates at the KPU Building in Jakarta on Wednesday, April 24, 2024.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - Political parties supporting the Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka pair have yet to discuss efforts to accommodate all political strengths to support the government. "Friends" at the parliamentary debate are still considered necessary for the effectiveness of the government.

Head of the Democratic Party's DPP Strategic Communications Agency Demokrat Herzaky Mahendra Putra said that Prabowo's move to embrace political parties (parpol) that were opposing him in the 2024 Presidential Election was correct. Because the next government needs at least the support of more than 50 percent of parliamentary seats.

"The government's supporting party indeed needs to have a majority in parliament so that the programs and plans that have been prepared can be executed more quickly. This is a necessity," said Herzaki when contacted from Jakarta on Thursday (2/5/2024).

Also read: Prabowo-Gibran Coalition Takes Control of Parliament

Nevertheless, said Herzaky, the government still needs a balancing force in parliament. Therefore, it is hoped that Prabowo-Gibran will not invite all parties in parliament to join the ranks of supporting the government.

DOKUMENTASI PRIBADI HERZAKY DARI TWITTER

Head of the Democratic Party's DPP Strategic Communications Agency Herzaky Mahendra Putra

Based on the results of the 2024 elections determined by the General Election Commission (KPU), the four political parties supporting Prabowo-Gibran qualified for parliament because they received more than 4 percent of the valid national vote. The four parties are Gerindra, Golkar, Democrat, and National Mandate Party (PAN). It is estimated that the four parties Advanced Indonesia Coalition (KIM) control 280 or 48.29 percent of the total 580 seats in the DPR. An additional 2-3 percent of seats are needed so that the coalition supporting the government controls a majority of seats in parliament. This means that Prabowo-Gibran does not need to invite all political parties in parliament to join.

"Only one or two political parties are accommodated. "Of course Pak Prabowo already has the formula," said Herzaky.

Herzaky brings up the experience of the Democratic Party being outside of the government and continuing to criticize when not in line with the government's policies. Some of these criticisms are also echoed by the Joko Widodo-Ma'ruf Amin government.

Only one or two political parties are accommodated. Of course Pak Prabowo already has the formula.

Political parties that will join the government are expected to comply and agree with the initial programs formulated by Prabowo-Gibran. The Democratic Party does not want any conflicts among the supporting parties of the government.

"The desire to join is very good, but please commit, all visions and missions at the beginning must be agreed upon. Do not consider our good programs as not good. If you want to join, all programs must be believed first," he said.

In line with the Democrats, Golkar also considers the importance of balancing power in parliament. Deputy Chairman of Golkar Ahmad Doli Kurnia Tandjung is of the view that having a political party that is the "opposition" in parliament is as good as having no "opposition". Because, in theory, the presence of the opposition is important to ensure the existence of control mechanisms (checks and balances).

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Chairman of Commission II of Indonesian Parliament Ahmad Doli Kurnia (left) presents the approval of the Civil Servant Bill to Vice Chairman of Parliament Sufmi Dasco Ahmad who led the 7th plenary session of Parliament in the Plenary Room of the Indonesian Parliament Building, Jakarta, on Tuesday (3/10/2023).

On the other hand, according to Doli, even without "opposition," the mechanism of control still runs because members of the DPR must be critical in carrying out their supervisory, legislative, and budgeting tasks. The most important thing is the commitment of all parties to nation-building.

"In all of (government), maybe this is the first time this has happened. But we'll see how it develops. Later there will definitely emerge non-formal forces which may later be more critical. Pak Prabowo's leadership is certainly in a situation with different dynamics. Maybe this is what political parties outside the government have been facing. "Maybe later society, civil society and all kinds," he said.

Doli revealed that the political communication built by Prabowo-Gibran at present aims to embrace political opponents. "Even if they want to join the government, I think we should also respect them. I'm sure Mr. Prabowo already has a formula for which previous collaborations had a lengthy process and which are new," he said.

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

The elected president for 2024-2029, Prabowo Subianto, met with the General Chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB) who was also the former vice presidential candidate number 01, Muhaimin Iskandar, at the PKB Headquarters in Jakarta on Wednesday (24/4/2024).

Meanwhile, senior Gerindra Party politician, Ahmad Riza Patria, explains that the policy of inclusion and formation of the upcoming cabinet is left to Prabowo. This is because the Gerindra Chairman knows more and has the formula. Moreover, inter-party meetings are often attended by Prabowo.

"Basically, regarding that matter, hand it over to Pak Prabowo, we don't want to comment, we don't want to talk. Because of that, Mr Prabowo will know better what happens next. And he has often met with political parties, yes," he said.

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