Leadership and Ideological Bond: PPP and Internal Fragmentation in Indonesia

Abstract

During 2014-2016, the United Development Party (PPP) experienced the most severe and prolonged internal fragmentation in its history. Since the beginning of 2014, the emergence of the twin Board of the Central Committee cemented the fragmentation that had occurred. Some people relate this phenomenon to the interests of the elites. However, the interest of the elites itself is something inevitable and in many cases is not necessarily the cause for prolonged fragmentation. e aim of this article, therefore, is to explain the factors that lead to the internal fragmentation. is article regards three main root-causes of the problem, namely (1) weak leadership, in particular the absence of a strong patron, which facilitates cadres' unrestricted freedom of action and makes them unable to maintain the Party unity, (2) the lack of an ideological bond that leads to the growth of exclusive-pragmatism, and (3) external factors, namely the government and coalition partners that are eager to preserve each con icting group's position.

Intra-party Conflict and the Emergence of Islamic-Based Parties in the post-2019 Election in Indonesia

“…Internal conflict is inevitable as a result of the contradictory views and interests that occurred among the party elites, and the disillusioned elites urge you to leave and form new parties. Noor (2016), who scrutinized the PPP internal conflict in 2014, revealed that the leadership weakness and the strong elites' interest have a role in creating the intra-party conflict. Those studies seem to agree that the inner conflict and fragmentation has degraded the Islamic-based parties' electoral performance.…”

Faksionalisasi Dan Konflik Internal Partai Persatuan Pembangunan

“…Kecenderungan konflik internal pada PPP ini bukan disebabkan karena perbedaan visi-misi, flatform, dan ideologi partai, tetapi cenderungan disebabkan oleh pragmatisme atas pilihan koalisi partai politik dalam mendukung calon presiden dan wakil presiden dan/atau pemerintahan. Ciri utama dari perpecahan parpol umumnya dimulai dengan konflik antar elit terkait dengan sikap mereka terhadap strategi dalam merebut kekuasan(Noor 2016) Perpecahan ini muncul diakibatkan terdapat dua Faksi di PPP, yakni faksi yang ingin tetap pada koalisi oposisi diluar pemerintahan, dan faksi yang ingin menjadi bagian didalam pemerintahan, yang pada akhirnya menimbulkan pembelahan PPP. Dinamika perpecahan semakin berkembang dan meluas ketika muncul Muktamar Surabaya secara aklamasi memilih Romahurmuziy sebagai ketua Umum, dan sementara Muktamar Jakarta menetapkan secara aklamasi juga Djan Faridz sebagai Ketua Umum.…”