Analyst says PPP will win more votes in 1997 election<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The United Development Party (PPP) should win
\nmore votes in the May elections, coming chiefly at the expense of
\nthe Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), political observer Yusril
\nIhza Mahendra said Saturday.<\/p>\n
The PPP will get some extra votes, but not too many, Yusril
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"The prolonged bickering over the PDI leadership will help
\nimprove the PPP's electoral chances,\" said the constitutional law
\nexpert of University of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The PPP and PDI are the two minority parties contesting the
\nelection against the mighty Golkar. In 1992, Golkar won 68
\npercent of the vote, against PPP's 17 and PDI's 15 percent.<\/p>\n
Speaking after a book launch, Yusril said that in spite of its
\nminority position, the PPP has played its political cards much
\nmore effectively than many people, even those in the PPP, have
\ngiven it credit for.<\/p>\n
Many ideas originating from the party have been adopted by the
\ngovernment, he said, citing improvements to the education system,
\nmeasures for controlling the distribution of alcohol, and the
\npoverty alleviation program.<\/p>\n
\"The PPP should be proud that many of its programs, offered
\nduring the last election campaign, have been appropriated by
\nGolkar or the government,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Party members should shed any inferiority complex they may
\nhave for being a minority party.<\/p>\n
\"The PPP should continue to present ideas for social and
\npolitical reform,\" Yusril said. Reforms \"will be the people's
\nfocal interest in next year's election campaigns,\" he added.<\/p>\n
He suggested party leaders concentrate more on drafting
\nprograms for voters, rather than becoming obsessed with winning
\nvotes.<\/p>\n
\"Winning a general election does not always mean winning the
\nmost votes,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He called for patience from party supporters, saying that
\nPPP's time could still come in the future.<\/p>\n
\"The PPP should take a lesson from the Social Democratic Party
\nof Germany, which rose to prominence only after about 100 years
\nof existence,\" he said. \"Who knows, the PPP could become the
\nruling party someday,\" he added. (imn)<\/p>",
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