JP\/04\/PPP<\/p>\n
PPP needs changes in leadership: Survey<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
A day ahead of the national gathering of the United Development
\nParty (PPP), a survey by the Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI)
\nrevealed on Thursday that the popularity of the country's largest
\nIslamic political party may further tumble at the next general
\nelection unless changes are made in the party's leadership.<\/p>\n
Denny J.A., executive director of LSI, said that based on the
\nresults of a recent survey, the party's popularity tumbled to 7th
\nplace, garnering only 2.6 percent of votes.<\/p>\n
"If an election were to be held today, PPP would not pass the
\nminimum threshold and would turn into a minor party," Denny said
\nat a seminar held by Young Generation of Indonesian Development
\n(GMPI), the youth wing of PPP, prior to a 3-day national
\ngathering of the party starting on Friday.<\/p>\n
PPP obtained 8.15 percent of votes in last year's general
\nelection, placing the party as the fourth largest in the House of
\nRepresentatives. However, Hamzah Haz, the party's chairman, lost
\nthe presidential election, having garnered only three percent of
\nthe vote.<\/p>\n
Because of these losses, several groups within the party have
\nfor some time insisted on holding a national gathering to
\naccelerate changes in the party's leadership, despite the central
\nboard's opposition.<\/p>\n
Denny explained that there were signs that former PPP voters
\nshifted their votes to the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS),
\nanother Islamic-based party, in last year's elections because its
\ncampaigns were more attractive to voters.<\/p>\n
"There is a new joke now: 'Check out of PPP and check into
\nPKS.' Most of our voters thought the PPP executed some self-
\ndestructive maneuvers, such as joining the Nationhood Coalition
\ninstead of advocating issues that concern the grassroots," Denny
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The survey, which covered 1,200 respondents in 150 cities and
\nvillages, showed that 33.3 percent of respondents believed that
\nthe party had not fulfilled its promises, made in last year's
\nelection campaigns, while 11.1 percent said that PPP would have
\nno chance of winning the next election in 2009.<\/p>\n
The survey also showed that voters were more concerned about
\nissues such as curbing soaring prices of basic necessities, as
\nwell as education, unemployment, corruption and better law
\nenforcement.<\/p>\n
"The survey showed that PKS could take over the 4th position
\n(in the next election) now held by PPP. The reason is that PKS
\nhas been campaigning for clean governance while PPP has not done
\nanything related to grassroots concerns," Denny said, claiming
\nthat his institution was known for its high degree of accuracy.<\/p>\n
Denny suggested that changes in leadership and other reform
\nmeasures must be taken by PPP leaders to prevent further decline
\nin the party's popularity.<\/p>\n
"In other countries, leaders of losing parties step down just
\nthree days after the election. They are aware that they have not
\nperformed well," he said.<\/p>\n
Irgan Chairul Mahfidz of GMPI said that the national PPP
\ngathering, which is expected to be attended by more than 1,000
\nparticipants from 32 provinces, would discuss how to prevent the
\nLSI survey results from becoming reality.<\/p>\n
"We don't care what the options are that will be taken by the
\ncentral board -- whether it is to have an extra-ordinary national
\nmeeting or to accelerate the national congress. The bottom line
\nis that the central board must be sensitive to the demands of its
\nconstituents," Irgan said.<\/p>\n
Reports have previously said that Hamzah and certain other
\nparty leaders have opposed the national gathering as it was seen
\nas a move to set in motion a campaign to remove the current
\nleadership.(006)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp04ppp-1447899208",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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