Prabowo-Gibran joining forces does not guarantee that PPP can return to Parliament

Even though it doesn't have a seat in the DPR, the opportunity for PPP to join Prabowo-Gibran is quite open. However, its bargaining power is considered weak.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

The Chairman of Gerindra Party, Prabowo Subianto, along with the Acting Chairman of PPP, Mardiono, attended a meeting of the leaders of political parties that are part of the coalition of supporting parties for President Joko Widodo and Vice President Ma'ruf Amin's government, at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Tuesday night, May 2nd, 2023.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS— The choice to join the Prabowo Subinanto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka government is believed to be able to maintain the existence of the United Development Party in the national political arena. However, PPP's bargaining power to obtain a strategic position in the government that will be formed after October 20 2024 is weakened because PPP does not have seats in parliament.

A researcher at the National Research and Innovation Agency's Political Research Center (BRIN), Wasisto Raharjo Jati, said that the opportunity for PPP to join the Prabowo-Gibran government is quite open. Although they do not have seats in parliament, PPP has a strategic mass base from the Muslim group. The existence of PPP in the government could serve as a link to the Muslim group, particularly its constituents.

Thus, PPP can still contribute in the national political arena. Competent PPP cadres can hold positions as ministers and deputy ministers if entrusted by the president. Being in the government also allows PPP to access resources that can be used for the 2029 elections contestation.

Also read:Failing to go to Senayan, PPP takes the political path of revising the Election Law, is it really possible?

"If it joins the government, PPP will still wave its flag in the national political arena. People may be surprised if PPP, which has been present since 1973, suddenly disappears," he said when contacted on Friday (May 24, 2024).

KOMPAS/STEPHANUS ARANDITIO

BRIN Political Research Center researcher, Wasisto Raharjo Jati, provides views on the book entitled Postcolonial Citizenship in Indonesia; A Popular History written by Emeritus Professor of Southeast Asian history at the University of Amsterdam and Queensland, Gerry van Klinken, when it was launched at the Pustaka Obor Indonesia Foundation office in Jakarta, Monday (14/8/2023).

However, Wasisto said, the challenges for PPP entering the Advanced Indonesia Coalition were quite tough. Their bargaining power is also weakened by the absence of representatives in parliament. In fact, the number of seats in parliament is often one of the considerations in determining the number and positions of ministers to be obtained. This is because a party's percentage of seats in the DPR will determine the government's support when dealing with political parties.

It was difficult to return to Senayan

On the other hand, the party PPP has lost ground to other non-parliamentary parties that have joined since the beginning. In fact, there are quite a few non-parliamentary parties that support Prabowo-Gibran, namely the Partai Bulan Bintang, Partai Solidaritas Indonesia, Partai Garda Republik Indonesia, and Partai Gelombang Rakyat Indonesia.

There must be a figure or idea offered by PPP to the government so that its presence in the coalition remains strategic despite not having seats in parliament.

"There must be figures or ideas offered by PPP to the government to ensure its strategic position in the coalition, even though it does not hold a parliamentary seat," said Wasisto.

YOSEPHA DEBRINA RATIH PUSPARISA

The Secretary-General of the United Development Party (PPP), Arwani Thomafi, accompanied by the Acting Chairman of PPP, Mardiono, gave a press statement during the Handover of the 2024 PPP Legislative Candidate Appointment Letter at the PPP Central Office in Jakarta on Wednesday (June 7, 2023). PPP aims for their members to win 2,000 seats from the regional to the national level in the 2024 Legislative Member Election.

However, at least if it is in government it can keep PPP in the circle of power.

Furthermore, the inclusion of PPP as a political party supporting the government cannot guarantee an increase in electability that would enable them to return to parliament. In the past several elections, political parties that have been expelled from parliament have never been able to return to the House of Representatives.

"However, at least if it is in government it can ensure that PPP remains in the circle of power," said Wasisto.

KOMPAS/WISNU WIDIANTORO

Chair of the Department of Politics and Social Change CSIS Arya Fernandes.

Don't have any negotiation tools

The Head of the Department of Politics and Social Change at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Arya Fernandes, believes that as a non-parliamentary political party, PPP does not have the bargaining power to demand seats. PPP must be ready to accept whatever position is given if it chooses to join the government.

According to him, it is necessary for PPP to have the courage to carry out its function of controlling the executive power. The position outside the government is considered more strategic because PPP is freer to convey the aspirations of its constituents. Although there are no representatives in parliament, PPP can still be involved in national political discourse.

"The long history of PPP as one of the largest Muslim political parties remains attractive in playing a control function towards the government," said Arya.