Prabowo govt could face formidable opposition in Parliament from PDI-P

Nation’s biggest party commands a fifth of the 580 seats, has vast grassroots support

- Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja

JAKARTA - Newly inaugurated President Prabowo Subianto will have to contend with a formidable opposition in the form of the nation's largest political party, whose strong grassroot support could pose a challenge to his ambitious plans.

None of the cadres from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), which commands a fifth of the 580 Parliament seats, is present in Mr Prabowo's Cabinet line-up of more than 100 ministers and vice-ministers. The remaining four-fifths of Parliament consists of seven parties that form the ruling coalition.

In the lead-up to the Cabinet's inauguration on Oct 21 - when it was still not yet publicly known if the PDI-P would have a spot in the ruling coalition - some of its party leaders made seemingly diplomatic and ambiguous comments, neither confirming nor denying specific support for Mr Prabowo's intended ruling coalition. They were also mum about which side of the House the party would sit on.

"The support does not have to mean becoming a Cabinet member, but by providing contributions through constructive outlook and input," was one such comment made by PDI-P Central Board chief Deddy Yevri Hanteru Sitorus in a statement on Oct 20.

But it was perhaps one of PDIP's senior leaders, Mr Ganjar Pranowo also the party's unsuccessful presidential candidate in the February election - who put it most directly in his Oct 17 comments.

"If PDI-P joins (the ruling coalition), it would automatically be reflected in the representation of PDI-P cadres in the Cabinet," said Mr Ganjar, who also told reporters that it was up to party chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri to decide.

Mr Prabowo and Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka were sworn in on Oct 20. A day later, Mr Prabowo's Cabinet, consisting of 48 ministers and 56 viceministers, was inaugurated.