PDI-P finally reveals plan for collective government

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) deputy chairman Dimyati Hartono broke his party's long silence on Thursday by announcing it intended to form a collective government.

Speaking in a seminar on the June 7 general election results and the upcoming General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), Dimyati said PDI Perjuangan did not solicit other major parties to set up a coalition government because it was against the 1945 Constitution.

"The Constitution gives the president, instead of parties, the prerogative to form his or her Cabinet. So it's impossible for us to make the coalition government a reality," said the constitutional law expert.

Dimyati's remarks uncovered a little of PDI Perjuangan's platform, long-awaited by many following its victory in the elections. Party chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri has insisted she would only disclose plans after the General Elections Commission validated the poll results, scheduled for July 26.

Dimyati defended Megawati's tight-lipped stance, which has baffled some observers.

"Megawati is silent but this doesn't mean that she does nothing," he said. "Neither is she arrogant or intending to form her own government. She's merely cautious in giving her response to all political developments in the country.

"You will see PDI Perjuangan take necessary steps ahead of the MPR General Session soon after the poll results are announced."

Dimyati said a coalition government was acceptable only in the parliamentary system, in which the government is headed by a prime minister but a Cabinet is vulnerable to collapse in a tenuous partnership.

"PDI Perjuangan, instead, is offering a gotong royong (collective) Cabinet, which vanished during 32 years of the New Order rule," he said.

Gotong royong refers to the spirit of cooperation maintained by people living in villages and contrary to the individualism associated with urban areas.

"We want to share power with other parties in the gotong royong administration. We will recruit experts and professionals outside the party for positions in various state institutions."

The New Order included non-Golkar cadres in the Cabinet formed after the 1971 general election, the first held after Soeharto came to power in 1967. But subsequent Cabinets were composed exclusively of Golkar officials until Soeharto recruited leaders of opposition parties in his last government last year.

Although acknowledging his party had yet to make official approaches to other parties, Dimyati said "some of us have initiated personal lobbying with our counterparts in a bid to design strategies prior to the MPR General Session and presidential election".

Pressures

Seminar participants joined speakers Abdillah Thoha, who is deputy chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN), Lt. Gen. (ret.) Hasnan Habib, a former ambassador to the United States, economist Sri Edi Swasono and Hariadi Dharmawan of the National Front (Barnas) in urging PDI Perjuangan to form an alliance with proreform parties in the presidential election and then form a coalition government.

Political observer Hermawan Sulistyo came out among the last to criticize Megawati's silence.

He said PDI Perjuangan's inner circle should prod her to voice her opinion.

"Nobody but the party's top brass is able to push Megawati to talk and explain the party's platforms," Hermawan said on the sidelines of a seminar on the student movement at the Indonesian Institute of Science on Thursday.

"It would be good for her if somebody in the party's inner circle criticized her."

He said he understood Megawati's reluctance to speak on important issues before the General Elections Commission (KPU) validated her party's victory in the June elections.

"But the problem is that situations develop so quickly that people cannot wait too long. With the new government formed in the next few months, PDI Perjuangan must propose, among other things, its version of the state budget and Cabinet lineup."

He said PDI Perjuangan gained huge support not because Megawati had excellent managerial skills but more because she was the symbol of the opposition force.

Separately, Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid recommended that leaders of the major parties convene to discuss national issues and settle them through compromise.

"We need to push them to sit and talk together for compromise, otherwise we cannot get through the needle's hole," Syarwan said. He was referring to conflicts from polarization of political groups over Megawati and Golkar's presidential candidate B.J. Habibie.

"Each party leader must be willing to visit one another. I believe there are no unresolvable matters," Syarwan was quoted by Antara as saying after a House of Representatives plenary meeting which endorsed the bill on the capital city. (rms/amd)