JAKARTA: Indonesia’s president-elect Prabowo Subianto has secured a parliamentary majority following the party that backed his political rival in the February polls announced it was joining his big-tent coalition.
The NasDem party, which accounts for around 10 percent of parliament, announced late on Thursday that it would back the incoming administration of Prabowo. The new move will give the Prabowo government control over parliament while boosting its stake from 43 percent to 52 percent.
The parliamentary majority is likely to smooth legislative processes, including approval of the 2025 budget, which outgoing President Joko Widodo will announce on Friday. Prabowo will be sworn into office on October 20, local media reported.
Nasdem leader Surya Paloh told the media persons on Thursday that his decision to join Prabowo would foster a “calmer and more optimistic” environment and ease the work of the incoming government.
The party’s decision to join Prabowo has led it to withdraw support for Anies’s bid for Jakarta governor this November. Jokowi’s youngest son Kaesang has in recent weeks been touted as a likely candidate for the post of governor in Jakarta.
