PAN: PDIP's Political Stance Must Be Respected

The Deputy Chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN), Viva Yoga Mauladi, stated that his party does not question the political stance of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), which has recently been criticised for being ambiguous. According to Viva, objectively, PDIP has affirmed its position to be outside the government, evidenced by the absence of its cadres in the cabinet. Therefore, he considers PDIP’s critical stance towards the government to be a certainty. “If PDIP is critical of the government and positions itself as an ‘opposition party’, that is already taken for granted, or a certainty and inevitability,” Viva said in his statement on Friday (19/6). He assessed that this stance must be respected as it benefits the democratic climate by ensuring the House of Representatives (DPR) retains a critical partner. Viva said PDIP’s political position is a constructive one. “PAN believes that PDIP’s political stance must be respected because it is precisely an advantage for democracy, as there is a balancing force in the DPR, serving as a critical partner to the government,” he said. PDIP, he continued, can correct government policies deemed inappropriate, and vice versa. Thus, Viva admitted he has no issue if PDIP cadres participate in demonstrations. “If PDIP cadres take to the streets to demonstrate, it is only natural as a reflection of their firm stance of being outside the government,” he said. The jibe at PDIP’s stance was previously made by Deputy Chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB), Jazilul Fawaid. He reminded PDIP to be firm, not ambiguous, about its position in the government. Jazilul particularly highlighted the appearance of one of its leading cadres, former Governor of the National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas) Andi Widjajanto, at a student protest near the Hotel Indonesia Roundabout on Friday (12/6). “If you are in the opposition, be the opposition. Don’t be ambiguous. Because we are all fighting hard to realise what the President promised,” he said at the parliamentary complex yesterday.