Daftarsbmptn.com – Amidst the discourse on forming a permanent coalition between political parties supporting the current government, Eddy Soeparno, Deputy Chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) and Deputy Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR), emphasized that PAN has demonstrated a continuous commitment to Gerindra Party Chairman Prabowo Subianto in every previous election, a political reality he believes has been implemented and tested.
Eddy’s statement was made in response to the discourse on forming a permanent coalition being rolled out by several political figures to ensure government stability. He emphasized that although PAN has never formally declared a permanent coalition through an official document, historical practice shows that PAN has formed coalitions with Prabowo and the Gerindra Party three times in national political contests.
“De facto, this collaboration reflects a consistent form of coalition,” he asserted.
Coalitions as Real Political Practice
According to Eddy Soeparno, PAN chooses not to get caught up in labels or terms alone, but rather to view political relationships with historical reality. He stated that since the last several elections, PAN has aligned its support with Prabowo, both during the campaign and during his administration. This relationship reflects a proven coalition, although there is no official, binding document.
The discourse on a permanent coalition itself began to emerge after the Chairman of the Golkar Party proposed that political parties supporting the government form a coalition that could last throughout the president’s term, with the aim of creating political stability and consistency of government programs (the Red Strategy). Eddy welcomed the idea, believing it could reduce the dynamics of alliances that often shift from one term to the next.
History of the PAN-Prabowo Coalition
PAN and Prabowo’s track record of cooperation extends back to several elections. Eddy emphasized that PAN supported Prabowo three times in national political contests, resulting in a close political relationship in practice. Although not yet stated in a de jure permanent coalition document, this relationship is very strong in de facto terms.
According to Eddy, this kind of political commitment is not merely about supporting a figure, but also related to shared political values and a shared vision for national development. He also added that PAN continues to maintain its commitment to a vision that it believes will bring progress to the nation.
Responses from Other Parties to the Permanent Coalition
The idea of a permanent coalition has received a response not only from PAN but also from other political parties in the current government coalition. Several parties, including the NasDem Party, expressed their support for the idea of forming a permanent coalition as a way to strengthen the political stability of President Prabowo Subianto’s administration. NasDem emphasized that its support for Prabowo will remain consistent in line with the policies decided by their party leaders.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) welcomed the idea of a permanent coalition and considered it relevant for creating stability in the government’s work. PSI also agreed that discussions regarding a permanent coalition need to be further discussed with the other party structures in the government coalition.
However, some see significant challenges in realizing this permanent coalition idea due to the dynamic nature of political parties, which frequently experience changes in their attitudes and internal composition, which influence their political direction. They believe that forming a permanent coalition would require changes to the political party law and a more concrete agreement among party leaders.
Coalitions and the Future of Indonesian Politics
Eddy Soeparno’s statement implies that, although there is no formal permanent coalition yet, the relationship between PAN and Prabowo is part of a mutually reinforcing political strategy and demonstrates consistency in every major election. This also sends a strong signal that PAN will likely continue to support the same party in future national political contests, including the 2029 Presidential Election.
Coalition politics in Indonesia often changes from period to period, with new alliances emerging based on the strategic political needs of the moment. According to analysts, the idea of a permanent coalition, while appealing, still requires careful consideration, as it involves many internal party dynamics within Indonesia’s ever-evolving political landscape.