The vote acquisition of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) nationally from the results of the KPU’s temporary real count is not too different from the results in 2019. In the provisional count, PKS did not even break into the top five largest votes.
According to Executive Director of Voxpol Center Research and Consulting Pangi Syarwi Chaniago, PKS learned from 10 years as a counterweight to the government. The 2024 vote acquisition is not significant enough to add seats to the DPR RI.
“To sink and rise with the people is very important. Being the people’s mouthpiece is an honor. However, it turns out that the behavior of our voters does not appreciate this. They should have cast their votes for PKS so that they can add seats to the DPR. The phenomenon of PKS being in opposition for 10 years is not optimal. “which was carried out by the PDIP. As a result, the PDIP harvested the largest number of votes in the second election,” he said in a written statement in Jakarta, Sunday (17/3).
Pangi said that being in the opposition was cool, the case might be investigated, and there would be no appreciation from the people.
“The people are not smart enough for that. The people do not reward PKS’s struggle. I think that PKS might be number one or two, but the facts are not as calculated on paper.”
Being in the opposition for 10 years, he said, was quite tiring. The party cannot receive programs and policies from the government. Many PKS regional head programs cannot receive central funding because they are considered oppositional, one of which is Depok.
“I think PKS will be rational. If 10 years of the opposition not maximally helping the people, I think it won’t bring bad luck to the government, it will actually bring good. PKS has no problems with Prabowo, has participated in two elections, and this doesn’t make their chemistry difficult “To unite. It’s different from PDIP. With Gerindra, as far as I know, there are no obstacles in building a coalition.”
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Pangi said no party might be in opposition for 15 years. However, if PKS takes the path of 15 years as opposition, this must be appreciated. “I think PKS is more considerate of its benefits and disadvantages. People still hope for an opposition.”
Political communications observer from the Bandung Islamic University, Muhammad Fuady, said that this coalition might happen. The only question is whether PKS constituents can accept it if their chosen party chooses to form a coalition rather than be in opposition?
“PKS is a party that has a low level of pragmatism. This party is relatively consistent, based on religious ideology, both at the elite and constituent levels. The choice to become an opposition has also been made for a long time. PKS’s political decisions usually have the same resonance with voters. This means, the party’s voice is in harmony with its public.”
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In politics, added Fuady, everything is permitted and possible. Those who are political opponents can suddenly become friends in the same boat. Especially if they actually have a relatively emotional bond because they have been in a coalition in the previous presidential election.
“So if volunteers and voters want PKS to become the opposition, it would be better for the party elite deliberation to consider this. Moreover, PKS has experience being in the opposition. A healthy democracy requires an opposition to ensure that government policies are in line with public aspirations.”
For PKS voters, the PKS tradition is not pragmatism but more ideological politics, not power being the goal. This means that being outside the circle of power is more honorable for PKS. “This party has no tradition of betraying the votes of its constituents.” (Z-2)
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