Why Is Opposition Necessary In Government?

A number of Prabowo Gibran supporters listened to a speech from Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka at Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Wednesday (14/2/2024). (Between/Personal Documentation)

"Prabowo-Gibran and the entire Forward Indonesia Coalition, we will embrace all elements and all strengths," Prabowo Subianto said in his speech at Istora Senayan, Wednesday (14/2024).

"We will become presidents, vice presidents, and governments for all Indonesian people," continued the chairman of the Gerindra Party.

The speech was delivered by Prabowo Subianto after he and Gibran Rakabuming Raka were found to be at the top of the quick count or fast count in several survey institutions.

Despite getting the most votes, the quick count showed that the number of votes from the Advanced Indonesia Coalition in parliament was still less than 50 percent.

If you calculate the power of the vote from the accumulation of political parties supporting Prabowo-Gibran based on the quick count, it is in the range of 42-43 percent.

Are Gerindra, Golkar, Democrats, and the National Mandate Party (PAN), political parties who are members of KIM who come from parliament. That is still added by four non-parliamentary parties, namely PSI, the Indonesian Gelora Party, the Crescent Star Party (PBB), and the Garuda Party.

With KIM's vote still less than 50 percent, it is only natural that Prabowo expressed his desire to embrace all elements after he won the 2024 presidential election.

Director of the Indonesian Public Institute (IPI) Karyono Wibowo, reconciliation after the presidential election is something positive, but if examined further, a government without opposition could endanger democracy.

"Reconciliation is something that is natural for every winner of the presidential election. He (Prabowo) is aware that political support in parliament is not strong enough. Prabowo naturally wants to invite parties outside the coalition to create political, security forces," said Karyono Wibowo when contacted by VOI.

Karyono added that reconciliation aims to smooth the policy of government programs so that they have absolute support in parliament. According to him, this is common if political support in parliament is not strong enough.

Karyono said that efforts to create a fat coalition in parliament have the potential to have a negative impact. Reconciliation between winning and losing coalitions could actually threaten Indonesia's democracy.

"Reconciliation if only to strengthen the position of the executive is not healthy, because a democratic country needs balancing force, it takes opposition, to control the course of government," said Karyono again.

The coalition by inviting almost all parties to only have the potential to create an exclusive heavy or government that is too powerful, according to Karyono. That way, governments that are too strong can create aabuse of power, abuse of authority, and become corrupt, tend to be authoritarian because there is no control.

"So, there is still a need for political parties that are in opposition, it is useful to control policies so that the right track with the constitution, with regulations with the vision and mission of the presidential and vice-presidential candidates. If it is not there, it can be critical," he explained.

Presidential Candidate number one Anies Baswedan spoke about Prabowo's desire to embrace all elements after beating the results of the 2024 presidential election's quick count. But from his remarks, the presidential candidate carried by the Coalition for Change seemed reluctant to accept Prabowo's invitation.

"The calculation has not been completed, complete it first, one by one," said Anies in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, quoting Kompas.

The former governor of DKI Jakarta emphasized that he is currently focusing on escorting vote count so that elections run clean, honest and fair.

Meanwhile, PDIP has firmly stated that it is ready to become an opposition. Based on quick calculations, PDIP's votes were still in first place, even defeating Golkar and Gerindra who carried Prabowo-Gibran.

Quick count in a number of survey institutions stated that PDIP received a vote of 15-16 percent. This figure is down compared to their vote acquisition in the 2014 and 2019 elections which received 18.95 percent and 19.33 percent.

PDIP Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto emphasized that the party bearing the white-nosed bull is ready to fight as an opposition outside the government and parliament to carry out check and balance tasks.

According to him, being outside the government is a patriotic task and has been carried out by the PDI-P after the 2004 elections and the 2009 elections.

"When the PDI-P was outside the government in 2004 and 2009, we were greatly appreciated because of the role and improving the quality of democracy. In fact, the task outside the government is a patriotic task for defending the interests of the people themselves," said Hasto.

Karyono Wibowo did not rule out the possibility that PDIP would also join the Prabowo-Gibran government later, although it is arguably a very small opportunity.

But he hopes that PDIP and other parties that are not included in KIM will remain outside the government.

"If necessary, the parties carrying 01 and 03 remain outside the government because they act as an equalizer," said Karyono.

PDIP still has a chance, but apparently, Jokowi's conflict with PDIP is too deep to make it a bit difficult, he added.

Reconciliation is a common thing to do to build a strong government. But if in every election all parties have to be reconciled, then the meaning of the election itself should be questioned. In fact, the opposition could actually make the ruling group not go too far.