Former Indonesian presidential candidate Ganjar says will not join incoming Prabowo administration
Mr Ganjar Pranowo said that he intends to “keep proper scrutiny” over the incoming government led by Mr Prabowo Subianto and vice-president-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
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JAKARTA: Indonesia's unsuccessful presidential contender Ganjar Pranowo has reiterated that he would not join the upcoming administration of his former rival Prabowo Subianto, stating instead that he would like to maintain scrutiny over the incoming government.
"Firstly, I would like to declare that I would not join this administration, but I would maintain my respect for it. I would also like to keep proper scrutiny of it,” local media quoted Mr Ganjar as saying to his election campaigning team at a gathering in Jakarta on Monday (May 6).
During the event, Mr Ganjar also announced the disbandment of his team while extending his gratitude to all supporters who backed him in the presidential election that was held earlier in February.
The former Central Java governor said that the decision to be in the opposition was considered to be the most effective way for him to cast an eye over the Prabowo administration, while acknowledging that there were both pros and cons in being part or outside of the government.
Mr Prabowo will be sworn in as Indonesia's eighth president on Oct 20 along with Mr Gibran Rakabuming Raka as the vice-president.
Mr Ganjar on Monday also urged his supporters not to engage in criticising either side of the administration.
"By taking this approach, political morality can prevail and the correct approach to politics can be elevated. It will also foster mutual respect without the need for any mutual criticism of each other,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mr Ganjar also stressed that parliament should serve as the appropriate platform for expressing criticism which helps in providing an effective oversight of the government. .
"The most appropriate way to criticise must be through the right channel, which is parliament. That is the best way for us to take any appropriate actions," he said.
Mr Ganjar’s former running mate, Mr Mahfud MD, also affirmed his commitment in advancing democracy through various platforms, including via political parties and movements.
The former Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs said that political movements transcend political parties and they emerge from within civil society, organisations and the media.
Mr Mahfud is currently working to revive the civil society that once succeeded in providing a unified front to build democracy in Indonesia, said local media outlet Tempo quoting the former minister.
He also plans to resume teaching at a university to rectify what he said were “weaknesses” in the current state of the legal system where affairs were conducted “without ethical standards”.
Without giving specific details, Mr Mahfud said that laws should not be moulded according to the short-term interests of certain elites. This situation must be corrected, he added.
"I will oversee this matter of law, especially in the courts because laws evolve through the process of lawmaking, day to day government work, and in the courts,” said Mr Mahfud, adding that their supporters must be organised to ensure that the country remains safe.
This is not the first time that Mr Ganjar has expressed his intention to be in the opposition against the Prabowo government. In March, the 55-year-old said that he would not accept any offer to be part of the Prabowo administration.
The Ganjar-Mahfud presidential election team came in third by securing over 16 percent of the votes in the Feb 14 election. They came in behind the pairing of Mr Prabowo and Mr Gibran, who won 59 per cent of the votes as well as Mr Anies Baswedan and his running mate Muhaimin Iskandar. The latter pulled in about 25 per cent of the votes.
Previously, Mr Ganjar had also suggested that his party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), might be inclined towards assuming the opposition role in parliament, judging by recent remarks made by its chairperson, Mdm Megawati Soekarnoputri.
Following the results of the Feb election, Mdm Megawati has been notably vocal by issuing frequent statements expressing concern over what she viewed as interference in the electoral process by the outgoing President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.
"No decision has been made, but if we see statements from Mdm Mega, I believe that (PDI-P) will be outside of the government," Mr Ganjar told reporters in Yogyakarta in April as reported by the Jakarta Post.
The PDI-P is Indonesia’s current ruling party in parliament, which has scored a historic hat-trick with 16.72 percent of the vote in the Feb legislative election, winning the most votes for the third time in a row. The outgoing President Jokowi was also a former PDI-P politician.
PDI-P secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto said Mr Ganjar's stance of not joining the upcoming government reflected the attitude of the party for being steadfast and unwavering.
"Yes, of course, because this is an attitude of statesmanship, a very good attitude that even election (results) have never diminished the party’s attitude, that of its ally political parties, and in its candidates such Mr Ganjar and Prof. Mahfud,” said Mr Hasto as quoted by online portal Kompas.
The PDI-P is set to announce its political stance towards the incoming Prabowo administration at its National Working Meeting (Rakernas) to be held from May 24 to 26.
The party said that the meeting would further discuss the party's position and strategic direction including its relationship with the new government.
Beyond that, The Jakarta Post on Tuesday reported that PDI-P is weighing Mr Anies as among those considered as gubernatorial candidates for the November regional election in Jakarta.
Mr Anies had previously served as Jakarta governor from 2017 to 2022 before running in February’s presidential election.
