How to make a real democracy now the elections are over<\/p>\n
Thomas Hidya Tjaya, Boston, Massachusetts<\/p>\n
The second round of our first direct presidential elections
\nhas concluded smoothly and peacefully. While the official results
\nare yet to be announced, there is very little doubt that Susilo
\nBambang Yudhoyono and Jusuf Kalla will emerge as the winning
\npair.<\/p>\n
The smooth process of this phase of the election, together
\nwith the previous two, has indeed brought hope to many people,
\nboth Indonesians and foreigners alike. The renewed excitement is
\njustifiable, given the latest bombing just a few weeks earlier
\nthat shattered the relative peace and stability in the country.<\/p>\n
The stock market has responded positively to the preliminary
\nresults of the elections and with a great hope that the new
\ngovernment would implement policies to help boost the economy.<\/p>\n
There is no question that the peaceful elections also provide
\ngood signs for the future of Indonesia's democracy. As an
\nessential element in a democratic system, the peaceful elections
\nare undeniable proof that the country is capable of becoming a
\ngreat democratic nation that can protect and uphold the rights of
\nits citizens. The electoral system and its effective operational
\nprocess will surely help the country shape its socio-political
\nscene over the years.<\/p>\n
No less important than the democratic system is the president-
\nelect. The recent shift to a direct presidential election is
\nindicative of the trust given to the people to elect their own
\nleaders through individual votes.<\/p>\n
This means that voters have more voice in deciding who should
\nbecome the leader of their country. They should consider, for
\ninstance, whether presidential candidates possess the qualities
\nof a democratic leader. In many respects, voters need to have a
\ncertain degree of trust in the abilities of candidates to fulfill
\ntheir hopes and aspirations for them to select one.<\/p>\n
As we may know from the history of many elections, there are
\nhundreds of reasons to vote for a particular candidate. Voters do
\nnot necessarily go to the polling booths knowing with absolute
\ncertainty for whom they will cast their votes. Even more
\ndifficult is finding the right reason to vote for one candidate
\nover others.<\/p>\n
The available candidates may not always reflect the hopes of
\nvoters, and the pros and cons of the candidates' qualities are
\nabundant. That we dislike the stance of a particular candidate on
\ncertain issues may not necessarily lead us to cast a vote for the
\nother candidate -- because we may dislike their stance on other
\nissues or feel unsure of their leadership skills.<\/p>\n
Take, for example, the two candidates in the upcoming U.S.
\npresidential election: George W. Bush and John Kerry. They have
\ndiscussed and criticized each other's stance on many different
\nissues, such as the war in Iraq and their military service
\nrecords. An issue that has played an important role in Bush's
\ncampaign is that of security.<\/p>\n
In his speeches, Bush keeps referring to his excellent
\nleadership, particularly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attack, and
\npaints a portrait of himself as a leader that provides security
\nto the citizens of his country. A good number of voters may be
\nhighly likely to buy into the issue and vote for him in November.<\/p>\n
Whether or not this particular style of leadership is
\nconducive to the making of democracy may be considered secondary
\nin this case. Other voters, however, may disagree with him
\nsubstantially on certain issues, for instance, his foreign
\npolicies or his so-called conservative values. They may find Bush
\nto be acting against the rest of the world and sowing the seeds
\nof enmity toward the U.S. in other countries.<\/p>\n
Granted this opposition, however, these voters may not
\nnecessarily find themselves ready to vote for Kerry, either. Some
\nmay doubt his leadership skills, others may be yet to see the
\nreal Kerry as an individual and a leader during the remainder of
\nthe campaign period.<\/p>\n
To put it simply, we do not always have good and qualified
\npresidential candidates, and there is always a gray area in which
\ndoubt arises about the right choice.<\/p>\n
Given such circumstances, therefore, it is important to make a
\ndistinction between winning an election and possessing the
\nqualities and skills necessary to be a democratic leader. Winning
\nan election does not always mean the candidate possessed the
\nrequired qualities and skills for the job, because these two
\nissues do not necessarily coincide.<\/p>\n
There are many reasons for voters to pick one candidate over
\nanother, and this should warn us against making a hasty judgment
\nabout the personal qualities of the winner. Let us take an
\nexample at home and assume that Susilo and Kalla win.<\/p>\n
Many people have expressed their hopes that a new president
\nand vice president may bring about a more rapid and positive
\nchange in the country. In some ways, these voters may have been
\ndisappointed with the slow pace of change under the Megawati
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
The hypothetical victory of Susilo and Kalla, however, does
\nnot necessarily suggest that voters saw in them the qualities and
\nskills required for a democratic nation. Some people may have
\ncast their votes for Susilo and Kalla simply because they wanted
\nchange, although they might not have known the new government's
\npolicies nor whether the overall social, political and economic
\nconditions would be improved.<\/p>\n
Thus, it is important for the winner of the election to
\nexercise a certain degree of humility in accepting their victory.<\/p>\n
While a victory does not prove a candidate's aptness for the
\nposition, on the other hand, it suggests the deep-seated hopes
\nand aspirations of the ordinary people for a qualitatively better
\nlife. Voters have held out expectations that the candidates'
\ncampaign promises are fulfilled and that the new government makes
\nevery effort to provide better living conditions for all.<\/p>\n
Winning an election as part of the democratization process
\nmeans the reception of a new responsibility for the country and
\nmarks an beginning to a new era that strives for the continued
\ndevelopment of democracy. We all want to see that the next
\ngovernment is established not only from and by the people, but
\nalso for the people.<\/p>\n
The writer is a lecturer at the Driyarkara School of
\nPhilosophy in Jakarta. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in
\nphilosophy at Boston College, Massachusetts.<\/p>",
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