Golkar urges political party elites to maintain stability and consistency

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Golkar Party Central Executive Board (DPP) chairman Mukhamad Misbakhun has urged all political party elites to demonstrate maturity, clarity, and consistency of stance in responding to recent national dynamics. He said it is important for political elites to help maintain political stability, avoid provocative narratives, and not encourage movements in society that could potentially heat up the situation and escalate socio-political tensions. “The duty of all political elites is to set an example, provide solutions, and place the interests of the nation and state above personal or momentary political interests,” Misbakhun said in a statement in Jakarta on Sunday. He stated that political parties should not display ambiguous attitudes, appearing to act as a balancer when a policy is problematic, yet also taking political advantage when a government programme receives a positive response from the public. According to him, differences of opinion and criticism are normal in a democracy. Although Indonesia’s constitutional system and tradition do not formally recognise an opposition, every political party must still demonstrate a clear and consistent position, namely being inside the government or taking a position outside the government. “One cannot take points from a good government programme, but then distance oneself and harshly criticise when a government programme is facing problems. Such a two-legged political position is not elegant,” he said. Amid the pressures caused by geopolitical dynamics and the current economic situation, he reminded that criticism should be delivered responsibly and directed towards calming the situation. “Criticism is important in a democracy, and the government continues to listen to the people’s aspirations. But in a situation full of pressure, what is needed is a calming attitude, not narratives that make the situation even hotter,” Misbakhun said. He therefore encouraged all political parties to prioritise collaborative working politics, because the nation’s current problems cannot be solved by blaming each other, but require the contribution of ideas from all political forces. “Nationalist-minded politics, that is politics which prioritises national interests over practical, populist political interests,” he said.