27-5-2024 (JAKARTA) In a move that could reshape Indonesia’s political landscape, President-elect Prabowo Subianto is actively engaged in talks with the country’s largest opposition party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), to forge a coalition that would control an overwhelming 79% of the parliament.
According to sources familiar with the matter, top officials from the PDI-P have been holding intensive discussions with representatives from Prabowo’s Gerindra party since March. The negotiations have reportedly centered around the potential allocation of key ministerial seats or influence over the state budget to PDI-P members.
Prabowo, who will succeed President Joko Widodo (widely known as Jokowi) on October 20th, has been reaching out across party lines in an effort to secure lawmakers’ approval for his ambitious campaign promises, such as the introduction of a free lunch program and policies aimed at propelling the country’s economic growth to an impressive 8%.
This strategy mirrors the approach taken by the incumbent president, Jokowi, whose control over 74% of the parliament enabled him to push through contentious legal and criminal reforms during his tenure.
The PDI-P, which saw its presidential candidate suffer defeat at the hands of Prabowo in the February 14th polls, is poised to become the largest opposition party in the next parliament, securing 19% of the seats. The ongoing discussions between the PDI-P and Prabowo’s allies underscore the pragmatic nature of Indonesian politics, where even parties with a history of opposition, like the PDI-P under former dictator Suharto, are willing to explore coalitions for their own benefit.
According to sources who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the discussions, Puan Maharani, the daughter of PDI-P Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, has been leading the talks on behalf of her party. However, the negotiations remain fluid, with the main point of contention revolving around any potential role Jokowi might play after stepping down as president.
Despite being a member of the PDI-P, Jokowi was widely perceived as backing rival candidate Prabowo during the campaign – a move that Megawati viewed as a betrayal, according to the sources.
Representatives from the PDI-P, Gerindra, and Maharani did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The decision to join Prabowo’s coalition or maintain an opposition stance rests entirely in the hands of Megawati Soekarnoputri, and the matter is expected to be discussed at the party’s upcoming national meeting. Hundreds of PDI-P members from across the nation are set to converge on May 24-26 to discuss the party’s stance and strategy. For the first time in a decade, the outgoing president, Jokowi, will be absent from the meeting, as he was not invited following the loss of his party membership.
