SP/Robertus Wardhy & Ezra Sihite, Cikeas – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Tuesday said he supports the role of Prabowo Subianto's Merah Putih coalition in serving as a balancing party to the incoming administration of President-elect Joko Widodo, even though he encouraged Democratic Party members last month not to align themselves with the coalition.
"I acknowledge Merah Putih coalition's ideas on how to supervise the administration and to become the balancing power. This role is necessary," he said during a press conference at his private resident in Cikeas, West Java, after receiving high-ranking officials from the Merah Putih coalition on Tuesday morning.
Yudhoyono also acknowledged that the coalition has accepted the final result of the president election, after the Constitutional Court settled an election dispute filed by Prabowo, who challenged the official election results of the General Elections Commission.
"I am happy because the Merah Putih coalition has set their attitude and acknowledged the [results of the] presidential election," the president said.
Yudhoyono, who is also chairman of the Democratic Party, stressed that although Joko and Vice President-elect Jusuf Kalla had won the election, Prabowo and his vice presidential running mate Hatta Rajasa had garnered enough votes to strengthen the Merah Putih coalition, and therefore their opinions in the upcoming administration should be highly considered.
In the July 9 election Joko and Kalla had almost 71 million votes, or 53.15 percent, of the total votes, compared to Prabowo and Hatta, who garnered about 63 million votes, or 46.85 percent.
"Don't forget that Prabowo and Hatta have also garnered a large amount of votes. The gap wasn't too big between the two pairs. As such, we have to respect and acknowledge this, the existence of this strong political power which will bring good, if both work hand in hand in building the future," he said.
"It is part of the democratic progress for parties outside of the government to monitor and ensure that the administration runs well."