PDIP Strengthens Himself As An Opposition, Gerindra Says Prabowo Still Wants To Embrace

Illustration. PDIP Chairman Megawati Soekarnoputri was visited by Gerindra Chairman Prabowo Subianto at Teuku Umar, Jakarta in July 2019. (Between-Puspa P)

Secretary General of the Gerindra Party Ahmad Muzani appreciates the PDI-P (PDIP) move to strengthen its determination to become an opposition if Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka wins and becomes the president and vice president elected as a result of the 2024 presidential election.

Nevertheless, Prabowo still wishes to embrace all strengths outside political parties and sympathizers of supporters of candidate pair number 2 to build Indonesia

"As a statement, we respect but once again Pak Prabowo's desire to embrace all strengths will still be done," Muzani told reporters, Friday, February 16.

In fact, Prabowo is said to already have plans to visit these forces. Although, it was not clearly conveyed about the time.

"Earlier, he also said that he would come to several figures who also did not support him," he said.

"He hasn't spoken in detail but there is a plan," continued Muzani.

In addition, Prabowo has also given orders to undergo communication with the candidate pair number 01 Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar or Cak Imin and candidate pair number 03 Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD. The communication is said to have begun.

"Our communication with parties outside the coalition has begun, although it is only the initial stage and communication, God willing, we will continue to do it with friends on the 01 and 03 sides," said Muzani.

Previously, PDIP Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto emphasized that PDIP was ready to become a political party that functions to check and balance the government or opposition.

Hasto assessed that in the second term of President Jokowi's administration, centralized power created the ability to manipulate, so that power and criticism in the context of policies and implementation required checks and balances.

According to him, being outside the government is a patriotic task and has been carried out by PDIP after 2004 and the 2009 General Election.

"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 in his statement.

In addition to fighting outside the government or in the DPR, the PDI-P will fight through party channels. "Because whatever happens in the dynamics of national politics, we have an obligation to convey what happens to the people," he concluded.