26-4-2024 (JAKARTA) In a striking political realignment, Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto appears poised to command a near-supermajority in parliament, after two erstwhile opposition parties signalled their intent to join his governing coalition.
The National Democratic Party (Nasdem) and the National Awakening Party (PKB), which had previously backed Prabowo’s rivals Anies Baswedan and Muhaimin Iskandar in February’s presidential election, have made overtures towards the president-elect in the wake of the General Election Commission’s (KPU) formal declaration of his victory on Wednesday.
This proclamation followed the Constitutional Court’s dismissal on Monday of election dispute lawsuits filed by losing candidates Anies and Ganjar Pranowo, who had alleged fraud and interference by outgoing President Joko Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, to favour his son Gibran Rakabuming Raka – Prabowo’s running mate.
On Thursday, Nasdem chairman Surya Paloh met with Prabowo in Jakarta, announcing afterwards that his party would “support the new government under Mr Prabowo Subianto”. Paloh justified the move as being “better” for “building a more advanced Indonesia”, adding that “being in opposition can be at any time, but working to help the government requires a spirit and sincerity of heart”.
Prabowo confirmed that “communication had also taken place previously” between his Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) and Nasdem, stating: “We agreed that we will work together for the greatest interest of the Indonesian people.”
A day prior, PKB chief Muhaimin Iskandar, who had been Anies’ running mate, rolled out the red carpet for Prabowo, voicing his party’s desire “to continue to work together more productively” with Gerindra, as the president-elect would “face various challenging agendas to develop Indonesia”.
Should Nasdem and PKB formalise their alliance with Prabowo’s coalition in October, he would likely enjoy the support of six of the eight parties represented in parliament. His current allies – Gerindra, the Democratic Party, Golkar, and the National Mandate Party (PAN) – would be bolstered by the newcomers, collectively commanding 63.46% of parliamentary seats and granting Prabowo’s administration a near-supermajority.
This grand coalition would facilitate the smooth passage of Prabowo’s policies and pave the way for his re-election bid, contrasting with the sole remaining opposition forces: the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), which won over 16% of the vote, and the Muslim-based Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) with around 8% of the ballot.
The PDI-P, formerly a staunch Jokowi ally until his son’s defection, will convene a mid-May meeting to determine its stance vis-Ã -vis Prabowo’s burgeoning juggernaut, as the shifting sands of Indonesian politics continue to reshape the landscape of power in Jakarta.
