REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Election observer who also Independent Election Monitoring Committee (KIPP) deputy secretary-general, Girindra Sandino said the discourse of Democratic Party to form the third axis in 2019 presidential election is feasible. He assessed it requires commitment of the other parties, which are National Mandate Party (PAN) and National Awakening Party (PKB).
"I think the third axis that might be formed by Democratic Party is a natural thing in our democratic contestation, although some believe the coalition outside Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and Prabowo Subianto is difficult to be realized. Nevertheless, politics is dynamic" said Girindra on Friday (March 9).
According to Girindra, the third axis members must have read the political map and the dynamics of voters behaviour in Indonesia. He said, new things always create euphoria.
"This is an alternative, the destruction of political saturation. PKB and PAN are going in that direction. I think it is correct that the PKB and PAN political direction builds a third axis of political alternative for the people," Girindra explained.
However, one of problems is who will become the presidential candidates. Girindra said there must be a figure who becomes a political magnet.
"I think Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) and Muhaimin Iskandar (Cak Imin) have not met the criteria as a presidential candidate, but maybe better as vice president candidate," said Girindra.
Meanwhile, there are presidential candidates from outside parties, such as former TNI commander Gatot Nurmayanto and Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan. Girindra said projection of political configuration needed to be done
"It must be observed and anticipated by those who claim to be the strongest party in 2019 presidential election," Girindra said.
Currently, five parties have already declared their support to Joko Widodo who is aiming at re-election. Despite of the absence of formal announcement of the coalition, the five parties have built a strong force. They are PDIP (with 19.46 percent seats in the House of Representatives or DPR), Golkar Party (16.25 percent) PPP (6.9 percent), Nasdem Party (6.25 percent), and Hanura Party (2.85 percent).
Jointly, they have 51.66 percent of seats in the DPR. The other contestant who might challenge the Jokowi coalition, Gerindra Party (13 percent) and PKS (7.1 percent), has a combined seat of 20.1 percent.
The other three parties, Democratic Party, PAN and PKB, which have not yet decided on the coalition's direction, have 27.94 percent seat in DPR. Details, Democratic Party 10.89 percent, PAN 8.75 percent, and PKB 8.3 percent.