Indonesian Democracy in KIM Plus Domination

At the central level, the Koalisi Indonesia Maju (KIM) plus holds 470 seats out of a total of 580 seats in the DPR, or 81.0 percent. Outside of this large coalition, there is only one party, namely PDI Perjuangan, which is the winner of the 2024 Legislative Election and controls 110 seats or 19.0 percent of the DPR seats.

Before the 2024 Election voting, KIM consisted of only six political parties, namely the Gerindra Party, the Golkar Party, the National Mandate Party (PAN), the Democratic Party, the Crescent Star Party, and the Indonesian People's Wave Party (Gelora).

However, after the 2024 Election, KIM gained additional members from parties that previously supported different presidential candidates, such as the Nasdem Party, PKB, and the Perindo Party. Several non-parliamentary parties, such as the Garuda Party and the Prima Party, also joined. This made the coalition then named KIM plus.

In his speech on August 28, 2024, Prabowo stated that the coalition's goal is for national unity, to be in the central axis, and to engage in polite politics. "Our nation is large, equivalent to Europe with 28 countries, we are one country. If Indonesian elites cooperate with each other, Indonesia will be very difficult to stop. We must cooperate, collaborate. No (need for) opposition, conflicts, enough already...," said Prabowo.

The dominant political strength of KIM plus now increasingly has the potential to crystallize politically through President Prabowo's idea for the coalition of political parties to become permanent. During a gathering with the leaders of KIM plus parties on Friday (14/2/2025), President Prabowo, who is also the Chairman of the Gerindra Party, proposed the formation of this permanent coalition.

The proposal generally received a positive response from the elite members of the KIM plus parties. Previously, in an extraordinary congress held in Hambalang, Bogor, on Thursday, February 13, 2025, President Prabowo was declared to run again in the 2029 Presidential Election.

Not only did KIM plus win legislative seats at the central level, but they also won the regional elections on November 27, 2024. Out of a total of 37 provinces that held regional elections, candidates from KIM plus won in 25 provinces (67.6 percent). If only considering the political parties within KIM, they secured control in 20 provinces or 54.1 percent.

The number of KIM plus controlled areas increases further if regions won by KIM plus together with PDI-P are included. There are 29 provinces won by KIM plus, either alone or together with PDI-P, which represents the largest number.

Meanwhile, the province that was truly won by PDIP was only 1 province, namely Bali. However, if we count the provinces won by PDI-P and KIM and other political parties, then there are 15 other regions that were won by candidates supported or co-supported by this white-nosed bull party.

From the map of the winners of the regional elections at the provincial level, it can be seen that the provincial leadership in Indonesia is currently controlled by the coalition of political parties supporting President Prabowo. This further emphasizes the magnitude of the government's political capital. The provinces of Central Java and North Sulawesi, which were previously known as "bases/bull pens", were successfully won by candidates supported by KIM plus.

However, on the other hand, the power of PDI-P is apparently still quite strong in several regions. The provinces of Bali, West Kalimantan, and the majority of provinces in Papua were successfully won by PDI-P candidates or PDI-P and its coalition. Moreover, the Jakarta Special Region Pilkada was actually won by PDI-P which carried former Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung Wibowo paired with Rano Karno.

At the district/city level, the superiority of KIM plus is also seen from the number of regional election victories by the candidates it supports. Of the total 508 regional elections at the district/city level, 218 regions were won by KIM. That means 43.1 percent of the total area controlled by KIM.

However, unlike at the provincial level, at the district/city level, PDI-P's control is apparently in better condition. This is because PDI-P appears to be more flexible in forming coalitions to nominate regional heads, both from internal and external candidates.

It was recorded that there were 116 districts/cities (22.9 percent) where the election victory was achieved by candidates from KIM plus and PDI-P, and there were 81 regions (16 percent) that were won by PDI-P together with other non-KIM plus political parties. Candidates from PDI-P who were purely supported by themselves and won were recorded in only 10 regions, or only 2 percent.

As a result, the results of the 2024 regional elections provided great political capital for KIM plus amidst the victory of President Prabowo Subianto. The great victory was very much felt at the central level, and tended to decline at the local level. PDI-P ultimately remained a fairly strong rival for KIM plus, especially in the mass base area. (LITBANG KOMPAS)