KIB Looking For New Members, Observer: If There's Another One, Maybe It's Not Strong Yet

Leader of the United Indonesia Coalition/DOK IST

JAKARTA - The United Indonesia Coalition (KIB) has signaled that it wants to add new members by inviting the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the Democratic Party.

Political observer from Paramadina University Hendri Satrio assessed that KIB's desire to add more members was because it was considered not yet strong or indeed looking for an intermediary. look for one more political party," said Hendri Satrio to reporters, Monday, August 1. KIB consists of the Golkar Party, the United Development Party (PPP), and the National Mandate Party (PAN). If the three are combined, the presidential threshold is sufficient or the presidential candidate threshold is 20 percent of the seats in the DPR RI or 25 percent of the national vote. There is panic in KIB that one of its members will leave KIB,” said the man who is familiarly called Hensat. According to Hensat, there are three possible reasons why KIB is 'desperate' to find new members. First, indeed to make the coalition stronger. Second, this new political party became a backup, saying that one of the original members of the coalition left. "And third, what I think is the strongest reason is that the glue is actually there, the attachment is in the 4th party, so it adds color to the KIB," said Hensat. Hensat gave an example. , the three coalition members have different historical backgrounds and constituencies. If the elite can unite, he said, it's not necessarily the case for their constituents. For example, Hensat added, If KIB advances Airlangga-Zulkifli Hasan, then what about the PPP constituents. However, according to the executive director of KedaiKOPI, the most important thing is that KIB determines who the presidential candidate is. "Because after all, the purpose of the coalition is to determine the presidential and deputy candidates, so KIB is really waiting to choose a strong figure," said Hensat. Previously, PAN Chairman Zulkifli Hasan hoped that KIB could add one more political party to join. The parties being explored are the Democratic Party and the National Awakening Party (PKS).

"Hopefully one more party will be added to make it strong," said Zulhas.

Meanwhile, PKS stated that it would continue to stay in touch until it met a coalition partner for the 2024 presidential election. Both with the United Indonesia Coalition (KIB) as well as with NasDem and Democrats, even with PKB.

"We are still continuing to build communication, not only with KIB, we also build communication with others. Each assessment, hopefully later it will narrow down and find a soul mate," said PKS President Ahmad Syaikhu at the KPU Office, Monday, August 1.

"Including NasDem and Democrats, yes. So in the meeting, the discussion of this coalition is still exploring," he continued.

Syaikhu said, currently intensive communication between political parties is carried out to prepare a boat to carry the same presidential candidate in the 2024 presidential election. Moreover, each coalition needs a presidential threshold of 20 percent.

"So the nature is still preparing the boat first. If the boat is safe, it means it meets PT 20 percent and then we will discuss together who the president and vice president are," he said.