PKS Criticizes Growing Government Political Party Coalition

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Justice Prosperity Party (PKS) chairperson Mardani Ali Sera expressed his views concerning the National Mandate Party's (PAN) move on joining the government's Political Party coalition. Mardani argued that it is the Party's right to determine their status as a government coalition or remain as the opposition. However, Mardani also mentioned a famous adage  "power tends to corrupt, absolute power corrupts absolutely."

With the arrival of PAN into the 'Joko Widodo coalition,' seven out of nine political parties in the Parliament had sided with the government in power, and control 81.91 percent of votes in the House of Representatives (DPR).

"It's their right for PAN to join the coalition, and surely every Party has their own strategy," said Mardani on Thursday, August 26, 2021.

Mardani however, mentioned that "the stronger the power, the bigger the chance for it to stray."

According to Mardani, choosing to side as the government's opposition is a rational, ethical, and logical decision a political party can make because it would help bring balance toward government checks and balances.

He insisted that PKS intends to side with the people and serve the general public and consistently offer constructive criticism towards the government

PAN's deputy chairman Viva Yoga Mauladi previously said that the Party has made a decision in relation to the government and cited that the attendance of PAN Chairman Zulkifli Hasan and Secretary Eddy Soeparno in a meeting with President Jokowi on Wednesday officially marks the party's new strategy.

BUDIARTI UTAMI PUTRI