Heru Andriyanto, Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Two political parties have expressed readiness to support the future government under Prabowo Subianto, potentially forming a formidable majority in the House of Representatives with nearly 75 percent of seats altogether.
The National Democratic Party (Nasdem) and the National Awakening Party (PKB), which supported presidential candidate Anies Baswedan in the February election, are willing to pledge allegiance to a new coalition supporting President-elect Prabowo and future Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
The inclusion of these two parties will bring the total number of coalition members to six.
"I will reiterate our readiness to throw our full support behind the new government under the leadership of Mr. Prabowo Subianto and Brother Gibran," Nasdem Chairman Surya Paloh said during his visit to Prabowo's official residence in South Jakarta on Thursday.
"We have concluded the democratic process for better or for worse, and it's time to close this chapter. Now, it's time to work together for the nation," he added.
A day earlier, Prabowo visited the private residence of PKB Chairman Muhaimin Iskandar to discuss future collaboration.
The initial members of the coalition include Prabowo's Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), the Democratic Party, the Golkar Party, and the National Mandate Party (PAN).
Gerindra's acting chairman Sufmi Dasco Ahmad confirmed that the four parties have agreed to include Nasdem and the PKB in the coalition.
"We discussed the matter in a meeting and agreed to collaborate with the PKB and Nasdem," Dasco said.
"Our partners in the coalition have placed their full trust in the president-elect to expand the coalition and form the cabinet," he added.
Two other parties have yet to decide their future direction. The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), which won over 16 percent of the vote and outnumbered the remaining parties in the last election, is widely believed to take the opposition role.
The PDI-P was a staunch supporter of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo until the president's son, Gibran, became a running mate for Prabowo, marking the departure of the first family from the party.
The Muslim-based Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), which nominated Anies for president, has not indicated whether they will follow in the steps of Nasdem and the PKB in joining the Prabowo coalition.
The last party in the House, the United Development Party (PPP), which teamed up with the PDI-P in nominating former Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo for president, has indicated its intention to join the new government.
However, the PPP failed to pass the 4 percent electoral threshold in the legislative election and will not have House representation in the upcoming five-year term.
The results from the legislative election are as follows:
1. Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) – 16.72 percent
2. Golkar Party – 15.29 percent
3. Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) – 13.22 percent
4. National Awakening Party (PKB) – 10.62 percent
5. National Democratic Party (Nasdem) – 9.66 percent
6. Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) – 8.42 percent
7. Democratic Party – 7.43 percent
8. National Mandate Party (PAN) – 7.24 percent
Below the 4 percent threshold:
1. United Development Party (PPP) – 3.87 percent
2. Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) – 2.81 percent
3. United Indonesia Party (Perindo) – 1.29 percent
4. Gelora Party – 0.82 percent
5. People's Conscience Party (Hanura) – 0.72 percent
6. Labor Party – 0.64 percent
7. Ummat Party – 0.42 percent
8. Crescent Star Party (PBB) – 0.32 percent
9. Garuda Party – 0.27 percent
10. Nusantara Awakening Party (PKN) – 0.22 percent
Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/prabowo-anticipates-grand-coalition-as-two-more-parties-join-i