Said Affirms PDIP's Position as Government Balancing Party

PDI-Perjuangan has affirmed that its position as a balancing party is in accordance with the decision made during the party’s National Working Meeting (Rakernas). This was conveyed by DPP PDIP Chairman Said Abdullah. According to Said, PDIP’s role as a balancing party differs from the opposition system commonly applied in several Western countries.

“PDI Perjuangan has decided that it is positioned as a balancing party. This stance is not a grey area. We cannot compare it with Western countries that run an opposition system,” Said stated on Thursday (18/6).

Said continued that PDIP Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri had previously stressed that the balancing position requires the party to be objective in assessing the government’s performance. “This means that if the government’s performance and policies are good for the people, it is only right for PDI Perjuangan to provide support until 2029, even though PDI Perjuangan may not gain electoral benefits from that good performance,” Said remarked.

Conversely, Said added, if the government’s policies and performance are less than optimal, PDIP will deliver criticism and input constructively. “And in a position like this, we may not necessarily gain electoral advantages either,” he said.

On this occasion, Said further explained that as a balancing party, PDIP wants President Prabowo to govern well until the end of his term in accordance with the constitution. “As a balancer, PDI Perjuangan wants President Prabowo to serve well until 2029, following the rules outlined by our constitution. This is different from choosing an opposition stance. Opposition means one’s political will is totally contrary to the ruling government. The opposition stance tends to take a path of highlighting the government’s weaknesses and shortcomings to gain a negative electoral impact,” he continued.

According to Said, Prabowo himself deeply understands the political stance and choice taken by PDI-Perjuangan. In fact, Prabowo expressed gratitude for this stance and considers it a more honest friendship. “The President is very aware that not all praise is good; excessive praise, like a friend, can actually obscure the objectivity that the President truly needs,” Said concluded.