Minor parties split support<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Minor parties that did not garner significant votes in the April
\n5 general election are throwing their support behind the six
\npairings contesting the July 5 presidential election.<\/p>\n
Christian-based Prosperous Peace Party (PDS) decided on
\nTuesday to back the Megawati Soekarnoputri-Hasyim Muzadi pairing
\nof the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P),
\nwhich won 109 seats in the legislative election. The newly
\nestablished PDS won 12 seats in the House of Representatives
\n(DPR).<\/p>\n
Only those parties or coalitions that garnered a minimum 3
\npercent of House seats or 5 percent of all votes in the
\nlegislative election are allowed to field candidates for the
\npresidential election.<\/p>\n
Megawati is the incumbent President and PDI-P leader, while
\nHasyim Muzadi is chairman of the country's largest Muslim
\norganization, the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).<\/p>\n
\"The PDI-P welcomes other parties to join us, but I believe we
\nmust have common interests and platforms to be able to truly work
\ntogether,\" Megawati said at a function marking the alliance
\nbetween the PDI-P and the PDS.<\/p>\n
Megawati, in her capacity as PDI-P leader, and PDS chairman
\nRuyandi Hutasoit signed a declaration that the PDS would campaign
\nfor the Megawati-Hasyim pairing.<\/p>\n
PDI-P deputy secretary-general Pramono Anung Wibowo said
\nseveral other parties had also expressed their intention to
\nsupport Megawati and Hasyim.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Unity Party (PSI), Freedom Bull
\nNational Party (PNBK) and the Marhaenisme Indonesian National
\nParty (PNI Marhaenisme) had hinted earlier that they would
\nsupport the Amien Rais-Siswono Yudhohusodo pairing of the
\nNational Mandate Party (PAN).<\/p>\n
The United Democratic Nationhood Party (PPDK) has decided to
\nback the Gen. (ret) Wiranto-Solahuddin Wahid pairing of the
\nGolkar Party, a move that has prompted party cofounder Andi
\nMalarangeng to resign from the party.<\/p>\n
The National Awakening Party (PKB) has indicated it will fly
\nthe Golkar banner if their own presidential candidate,
\nAbdurrahman \"Gus Dur\" Wahid, fails the mandatory health check.<\/p>\n
Analysts criticized the moves of the elites of minor parties,
\nsaying that the maneuver was simply a last-ditch effort to stay
\nin the game.<\/p>\n
Political analyst Denny JA said the elites of minor parties
\nsimply needed to make new steps after failing to achieve the five
\npercent threshold.<\/p>\n
\"The support is simply a new way invented by the chairmen of
\nthese parties to hold on to their political roles, but they did
\nnot consider that their decision might not influence voters,\"
\nDenny told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.<\/p>\n
He said providing support in exchange for positions or other
\nforms of compensation may be in vain, as 80 percent of voters
\nwere not listening to party leaders in making their selection.<\/p>\n
Saldi Isra, an analyst from state-owned university of Andalas,
\nWest Sumatra, shared the view, saying that candidates would be
\ndisadvantaged by too much support from minor parties.<\/p>\n
\"When they win, they must at least give them seats in the
\nCabinet, while there is no guarantee that minor party leaders
\nhave much influence over their followers,\" Saldi said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Susilo and Kalla met on Tuesday 363 would-be
\ncampaigners, who are members of Yudhoyono's Democratic Party, the
\nCrescent Star Party (PBB) or the Indonesian Justice and Unity
\nParty (PKPI).<\/p>\n
The meeting was attended by Democratic Party chairman S.
\nBudhisantoso, PBB chairman Yusril Ihza Mahendra and PKPI chairman
\nGen. (ret) Sudrajat.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/minor-parties-split-support-1447893297",
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