PAN Joins Coalition, Opens Way For The Ummah Party And Gelora Party To Enter Senayan

JAKARTA - The joining of the National Mandate Party (PAN) to the coalition party that supports the government is considered to be the opening for new parties, especially Islamic-based parties. This opportunity can be taken by the Ummat Party and the Indonesian Gelora Party to enter Senayan in the 2024 General Election.

"The supporters of PAN, who generally tend to be critical, certainly don't want PAN to enter the coalition party supporting the Government. They will most likely switch to a new Islamic-based party," said political communication observer from Esa Unggul University, M. Jamiluddin Ritonga in Jakarta, Friday, September 3rd.

Jamiluddin estimates that some supporters of the Muhammadiyah-based PAN will switch to a new Islamic-based party. This is because these Islamic organizations do not seem willing to support PAN which has changed its direction to support the government of Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

However, the only two Islam-based parties that have the greatest chance of becoming ports are the Ummat Party and the Gelora Party. While Masyumi Reborn still seems quite difficult.

"It seems that only the Ummat Party and the Gelora Party have the opportunity to enter Senayan. Meanwhile, the Masjumi Party will find it very difficult to gain significant votes to get tickets to Senayan," said Jamil.

According to him, the Ummat Party certainly has a strong base in Muhammadiyah and other Islamic organizations outside NU. Meanwhile, most of the votes from these mass organizations are expected to leave PAN, PPP, and PBB, and switch to the Ummat Party.

"Therefore, there is a possibility that the votes of PAN, PPP, and PBB will deepen in the 2024 Pilleg," said Jamil.

Meanwhile, he continued, the Gelora Party will compete closely with PKS by fighting over the same voter segment. Because of this, PKS will no longer get full votes from the Islamic segment which has been very loyal and it is estimated that some of its voters will switch to the Gelora Party.

"The Gelora Party will have a chance to go to Senayan, if it expands its segment of prospective voters. Educated Islamic groups who are nationalists can be considered to add votes to get tickets to Senayan," he said.

Therefore, continued Jamil, the new Islam-based parties are only the Ummat Party and the Gelora Party that have the opportunity to enter Senayan.

"That is if the two parties are able to expand the segment of their prospective voters and take advantage of the weaknesses of Islamic parties which are currently in coalition with parties supporting the government," concluded Jamiluddin.