UNS — The Chair of Democracy and National Resilience Study Center (Pusdemtanas), Institute for Research and Community Engagement (LPPM), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta, Dr. Sunny Ummul Firdaus, provides several inputs for Gibran Rakabuming Raka before his inauguration as the City Mayor of Surakarta.
The first input provided by Dr. Sunny is the importance to establish a policy that can attract many cadres to support the implementation of his program for the next five years. “Moreover, Gibran should build good synergy with many parties. Because in general any program will be implemented properly if the collaboration among all related parties went perfectly (collaborative governance),” Dr. Sunny states, Thursday (7/1/2021).
This input is quite logical, considering the scope of responsibility and homework left for Gibran and Teguh Prakosa. Furthermore, many parties doubted Gibran’s leadership in leading Surakarta. Dr. Sunny also remind Gibran to commit to avoiding ‘request’ from his supporting political parties for a certain important position. Even though this will not be easy, but Dr. Sunny hopes that Gibran will hold on to the commitment. She also asked Gibran to maximize his potential and experiences in the business sector to establish and develop the economic sector in Surakarta. Because the city has a great potential human and cultural resource.
“Furthermore, considering Gibran’s expertise in the business sector supported by the human resource in Surakarta, of course, this can be a certain opportunity for Surakarta city to be more developed. As long as the governmental personnel composition is favorable,” Dr. Sunny added.
Another aspect that becomes the concern of Dr. Sunny is the political balance in the Gibran-Teguh government. The elected mayor receives huge supports from many political parties, which can lead to certain political risks. The risks are, among others, compromising government and a government type that accommodative to political parties’ interests. “The political circulation is highly dynamic and these kinds of action are bound to happen. If an oversized coalition is considered as the requirement for stable government, the reality is the theory is not completely true. This condition will worsen with political party conditions, which tend to be rent-seeking and transactional. Therefore, this will be the first homework for the elected regional head,” explain Dr. Sunny.
At a theoretical level, Dr. Sunny adds, the opposition parties have a crucial role in maintaining the balance of democracy. Quoting Dahl’s explanation, Dr. Sunny states that opposition parties become an integral part and become one of the foundations, apart from participating, which he called polyarchy or a governmental form with democratic nuances.
Dr. Sunny mentioned several roles of opposition parties that will be useful for the Gibran-Teguh government, such as a balance of power, to ensure that policy alternatives can be delivered, and as a stimulus for healthy competition between political and government elites.
“Therefore, it is clear that the opposition parties strengthening aims to enforce policies that are in line with the interests of the people and avoid oligarchy. Without opposing parties, the political condition will be limped with no balance and monitoring,” she concluded. Humas UNS
Reporter: Yefta Christopherus AS
Editor: Dwi Hastuti