As A Middle Party, Golkar Is Easily Accepted By The Community And Coalition With Other Parties

Airlangga Hartarto (center)/Photo: VOI

JAKARTA - The political observer of Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University Jakarta (UIN Syarif Hidayatullah), Adi Prayitno, stated that the meeting between the three general chairmen of the political parties, Golkar, PAN and PPP, Thursday, May 12 in Menteng, Central Jakarta was a hard code for the 2024 general election coalition. The three parties wanted to appear to provide alternative choices in the upcoming presidential election.

"This is the coalition's hard code. Although it is not explicitly stated, the public can already read in that direction. The emergence of Golkar, PAN, and PPP together, provides a new alternative to the coalition after the public perceives that Gerindra and PDIP will form a coalition in the 2024 presidential election," said Adi.

Golkar itself appears to be the middle party capable of building a religious-nationalist coalition, with PAN and PPP. “Relatively, Golkar is the easiest for other parties to accept at this time. This is the advantage of Golkar compared to other parties,” said the political observer and researcher at LIPI.

Adi gave an example of the psychological obstacles faced if PDIP formed a coalition with PKS or if Gerindra formed a coalition with Nasdem. “Golkar doesn't have that obstacle. Even the chairman of Golkar, Airlangga Hartarto, can be accepted by all parties," said Adi.

If a coalition is formed between Golkar, PAN, and PPP, then these three parties have also reached the presidential threshold of 115 seats in the DPR because the seats for the three parties have already reached 148 seats. "It is even possible that there will be other parties that can join the coalition built by Golkar, PAN, and PPP," said Adi.

Airlangga's fluid figure which can be accepted by all parties also confirmed him as a very strong figure within Golkar. Adi does not see any other figure in Golkar who has higher electability than Airlangga, so the Coordinating Minister for the Economy is very suitable to be proposed as a presidential candidate from the coalition.

“Besides, the issues of plundering that a handful of Golkar internals is trying to do are no longer relevant. Evidently, Airlangga was not only able to consolidate internal cadres, but he was also able to consolidate himself with other party leaders. This is very strategic,” added Adi.

In addition, the very consistent position of Golkar and Airlangga in supporting the government of President Joko Widodo is also another advantage. "Golkar and Airlangga have never been flawed in Jokowi's eyes, because it is proven that all of Jokowi's policies continue to be well supported and accommodated by Golkar and Airlangga," said Adi.

This is very different from other parties supporting the government coalition, which according to Adi often criticizes the government. "In his statement yesterday, Airlangga was also able to consolidate PAN and PPP to stay behind Jokowi," Adi concluded.