Indonesia's Prabowo courts largest party for coalition, meets candidates for govt posts

Indonesia's incoming president Prabowo Subianto met candidates for senior government posts for a second day on Tuesday, as he seeks to bring the country's biggest political party into his already dominant parliamentary coalition.

If Prabowo can reach a deal with Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) there would be no opposition parties in parliament, an unprecedented situation since Indonesia began holding direct presidential elections in 2004.

Prabowo, who will be sworn in as president on Oct. 20, summoned over 40 people on Monday who said they had been asked to join the next government, including current finance minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati.

On Tuesday, Prabowo summoned dozens of potential deputy ministers, his top aide Sufmi Dasco Ahmad said.

While no lawmakers from the PDI-P had arrived at his house by early afternoon, Prabowo's party officials have said that he plans to meet PDI-P chief Megawati Sukarnoputri to discuss a possible political alliance.

The timing of a meeting is unclear.

The absence of any opposition in the parliament would mean that an eight-party alliance could ensure smooth passage of Prabowo's legislative agenda, but it would likely heighten fears about a lack of meaningful checks on Prabowo's power in a country with a history of authoritarian rule.

Seven of the eight parties in parliament have already joined Prabowo's coalition, securing him a parliamentary majority.

PDI-P, which won the most seats in the February election, had nominated Prabowo's predecessor, President Joko Widodo, for president in 2014. But the relationship soured over Widodo's tacit support for the president-elect during his campaign run.

Widodo's son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, is the incoming vice president.

In his second five-year term, Widodo was also supported by most parties in parliament, with only two opposing parties.Widodo leaves office facing criticism he has tried to change laws to benefit his family, and co-opt state bodies to control his opponents. He denies any impropriety, and has said democracy was thriving and he respects the country's institutions.

Analysts say they fear what they see as that democratic backsliding may continue under Prabowo, a member of the old elite that previously ruled Indonesia. Prabowo is an ex-special forces commander who was dismissed from the military amid speculation of human rights abuses, assertions he has denied.

In March, Prabowo described democracy as tiring, costly and messy, and said there was room for improvement.

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