Usulan Golkar Permanent Coalition Considered Not in Line with Democracy

JAKARTA - The National Leadership Meeting (Rapimnas) of the Golkar Party recommends several things, one of which is about a permanent coalition. However, a permanent coalition is considered not in line with Indonesian democracy.

Political communication observer at Esa Unggul University, Jamiluddin Ritonga, said a permanent coalition would not affect the balance of power if it was formed by two or three parties. Because Parliament can still carry out its functions.

"The formation of a permanent coalition of two or no parties should not be too worrying. Because, with two or three parties in a permanent coalition, check and balances can still be implemented. In that way, parliament will not be dead," said Jamiluddin in Jakarta, Monday, December 22.

"Parliament is not just a stamp agency, so that the pulse of democracy is still felt. Parliament can still carry out the function of oversight. At least this can still be done by members of parliament whose parties are not in the permanent coalition," he continued.

"If a permanent coalition is carried out by a majority of parties in parliament, it will paralyze democracy completely," he said. Because, said Jamiluddin, all parties in parliament will really be the president's servants.

"Apa kehendak presiden (eksekutif) akan dituruti parlemen. Tidak ada lagi pengawasan yang sesungguhnya," kata Jamiluddin.

"Parlemen akan semakin jauh dari konstituennya. Parlemen bukan lagi mengabdi ke rakyat, tapi justru mengabdi ke eksekutif," lanjutnya.

Therefore, Jamiluddin emphasized that the idea of forming a permanent coalition must be rejected because it could damage democracy.

"So, the idea of a permanent coalition must be rejected. Because, the idea is not in line with the constitution and reforms that entrust democracy in all areas of life," he concluded.

Previously, the 2025 I Rapimnas of the Golkar Party produced a number of recommendations, one of which was to encourage a permanent coalition as a form of binding political cooperation in parliament and government.

The Chairman of the Golkar Party, Bahlil Lahadalia, explained that the purpose of the permanent coalition was to ensure that every strategic policy of the government obtained stable political support, accelerate the decision-making process, and maintain the continuity of national development in the long term.

"Political stability is the main prerequisite for sustainable development," Bahlil said in a press release in Jakarta, Sunday, December 21.

Bahlil said that a permanent coalition is a transformation of the pattern of political cooperation from merely an electoral coalition that is tactical to the formation of an ideological and strategic coalition, based on common platforms and policy agendas.

"Koalisi Permanen ini tidak hanya dibangun untuk memenangkan kontestasi Pemilihan Presiden," katanya.

In addition to encouraging a permanent coalition, Bahlil also proposed that the Regional Head Election (Pilkada) be chosen through the Regional Representative Council (DPRD). The recommendation was conveyed as a form of implementation of people's sovereignty, with emphasis on public involvement and participation in the implementation process.

"Golkar Party proposes the Regional Head Election through the Regional Representative Council," said Bahlil.