In The Mind Of Golkar Regarding The Permanent Coalition, PAN: We Are Waiting For The Revision Of The Election Law

Deputy Minister of Transmigration Viva Yoga Mauladi. (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The National Mandate Party (PAN) has one thought with the proposal of the General Chairperson of the Golkar Party, Bahlil Lahadalia regarding the discourse of a permanent coalition. PAN assesses that the discourse must be included in the revision of the Election Law which is planned to be discussed by the DPR RI in 2026.

This was conveyed by the Deputy Chairperson of PAN, Viva Yoga Mauladi in response to the discourse of a permanent coalition delivered by Bahlil at the peak event of the 61st Anniversary of the Golkar Party, Istora Senayan, Jakarta, yesterday.

The Deputy Minister of Transmigration of the Republic of Indonesia revealed that the issue of a permanent coalition always appeared when he was a member of the DPR for two or 10 years. The reason, said Viva, is that there is no article in the Election Law that regulates the formation of a permanent coalition.

"While in the DPR (2009-2019), I have been a member of the Special Committee for the Election Bill twice. The issue of a permanent coalition always appears in every discussion of the Law on Elections," said Viva.

Viva explained, in Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning Elections as the legal basis for holding the 2019 and 2024 elections, there is no article governing the formation of a permanent coalition, either before or after the Presidential Election is held.

Meanwhile, in the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia Article 4 paragraph (1) it is stated that the President holds government power according to the Constitution. Meanwhile, Article 17 paragraph (2) states that ministers are appointed and dismissed by the President.

"So, the preparation of the cabinet is the prerogative of the elected president as a constitutional function. There is no constitutional obligation for the president to ask the DPR for approval in appointing ministers," explained Viva.

Empirically in the direct election in the presidential election, continued Viva, there is a political dilemma when there is a permanent coalition. According to him, if the elected candidate pairs are supported by political parties that have minority seats in the DPR, there will be potential political instability because the relationship between executive and legislative institutions will be in high tension and dynamics.

"It is very likely that the elected president will experience political hostages by the DPR because he only has minority power. If that happens, the government will not be able to work optimally to realize the vision and political promises during the campaign," said the former Secretary General of PAN.

"This assumption certainly does not apply if the candidate pair is elected to be supported by a political party that has a majority seat in the DPR," continued Viva.

Nevertheless, Viva said, since the 1999 election, whoever the president will certainly try to build the majority power in the DPR. Moreover, he said, the Constitutional Court had decided that the presidential threshold no longer existed.

"So the prediction in the 2029 presidential election will bring out many candidate pairs," he said.

As an reflection material, added Viva, the statement by the Head of Golkar Bahlil Lahadalia should be appreciated in laying the foundation for building Indonesia's presidential system in the future with multi-party parties. Therefore, Viva assessed that all parties need to wait for the discussion of the revision of the Election Law in the DPR which will discuss the codification of the three laws, namely the Presidential Election Law, the Election Organizing Law, and the Election Law for DPR members, DPD, Provincial DPRD, Regency/City.

"If a permanent coalition becomes the political decision of the entire party, then it must be included in the article in the Election Law. If that happens, then PAN has one thought with Golkar," said Viva.

"So we are waiting for the schedule for the revision of the Election Law," he concluded.

As is known, the proposal of Golkar Chairman Bahlil Lahadalia regarding the permanent coalition was submitted directly to President Prabowo Subianto at the peak event of the 61st Anniversary of the Golkar Party, Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Friday, December 5.

On that occasion, Bahlil said the government needed stability strengthening.

"The Golkar Party views the President, that a strong government requires stability. Through this honorable pulpit, allow us to provide suggestions that a permanent coalition needs to be made," said Bahlil, Friday, December 5.

Bahlil emphasized that he did not want parties in the current government coalition to come in and out. According to him, the coalition that supports the Prabowo-Gibran government must be solid.

"Don't be an in-out coalition, don't be happy here and there, my heart is happy everywhere," said Bahlil.