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PDIP Slams Golkar, Accuses Rivals of Power Addiction
🇮🇩 Indonesia /Elections & Politics

PDIP Slams Golkar, Accuses Rivals of Power Addiction

From CNN Indonesia · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • PDIP official Deddy Yevry Sitorus criticized Golkar's stance on PDIP's political position outside the government.
  • Sitorus stated PDIP is not addicted to power like Golkar, emphasizing its role as a balancing party through checks and balances.
  • He argued that a parliament dominated by government supporters risks becoming a rubber stamp, similar to the New Order era.

A senior official from Indonesia's ruling PDIP party has sharply criticized the Golkar party, accusing it of being addicted to power and questioning PDIP's decision to operate outside the government as a balancing force. Deddy Yevry Sitorus, a member of PDIP's central executive board, dismissed Golkar's criticisms as meddling in internal party affairs.

We respect the parties in government, and Golkar should also show the same attitude towards those outside the government.

— Deddy Yevry SitorusCalling for mutual respect between parties inside and outside the government.

"PDIP is not a party like Golkar, which wants to hold power whether it wins or loses. We are not addicted to power, as if we would die or fail to develop without it," Sitorus stated on Saturday. He expressed confusion over Golkar's criticism of PDIP's choice to remain outside the cabinet, acknowledging that holding power is advantageous but asserting that PDIP respects other parties' decisions to join the government.

Sitorus emphasized that PDIP fulfills its role as a balancing party through checks and balances. He raised concerns that a parliament where government-supporting parties hold a majority risks losing its critical function. "If all factions in the House can only obey and agree with the executive, what's the difference with the New Order era? Is the House still needed?" he questioned, drawing a parallel to the authoritarian past.

If all factions in the House can only obey and agree with the executive, what's the difference with the New Order era? Is the House still needed?

— Deddy Yevry SitorusExpressing concern about the parliament's critical function.

Earlier, Golkar Secretary-General Muhammad Sarmuji had questioned PDIP's role as a balancing party, stating his party respected PDIP's position but did not understand its purpose. "What has been balanced so far? The public will judge," Sarmuji remarked, indicating Golkar's skepticism about PDIP's political strategy.

What has been balanced so far? The public will judge.

— Muhammad SarmujiExpressing skepticism about PDIP's role as a balancing party.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CNN Indonesia in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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