JAKARTA – Indonesia’s incoming president, Prabowo Subianto, continued discussions on Oct 15 with candidates for senior government posts as he seeks to consolidate political power by bringing the country’s largest political party, the Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), into his already dominant parliamentary coalition.
If Prabowo successfully forms an alliance with the PDI-P, it would mark an unprecedented scenario since Indonesia began holding direct presidential elections in 2004—there would be no opposition parties in Parliament.
Prabowo, set to be sworn in as president on Oct 20, has met over 40 individuals who said they had been approached to join his government, including incumbent finance minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati. On Oct 15, he continued by summoning candidates for deputy minister positions, according to his top aide, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad.
While no PDI-P lawmakers had visited Prabowo’s residence by early afternoon, officials from his party indicated that Prabowo is expected to meet PDI-P leader Megawati Sukarnoputri to discuss a potential coalition. The exact timing of the meeting remains unclear.
A coalition including PDI-P, which won the most seats in the February election, would give Prabowo control over an eight-party alliance, ensuring the smooth passage of his legislative agenda. However, concerns have been raised over the absence of an opposition, which could lead to unchecked power in a country with a past marked by authoritarian rule.
Prabowo’s coalition already includes seven of the eight parties in Parliament, securing him a majority. The PDI-P had previously supported Prabowo’s predecessor, President Joko Widodo, but relations cooled due to Widodo’s apparent tacit support for Prabowo during the presidential campaign. Widodo’s son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, will serve as the incoming vice-president.
Widodo’s tenure, particularly in his second term, was backed by most parties in Parliament, with only two opposing. He has faced criticism for allegedly changing laws to benefit his family and exerting control over state bodies, claims he has denied.
Analysts fear a continuation of democratic backsliding under Prabowo, who is part of Indonesia’s old elite and has faced accusations of human rights abuses during his military career, allegations he denies. In March, Prabowo described democracy as tiring and costly, suggesting that there is room for improvement in Indonesia’s democratic system.