Multiparty system has not improved democracy<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The multiparty political system has not significantly contributed
\nto regional autonomy and politicians continue to ignore their
\nconstituents demands and aspirations, a study says.<\/p>\n
The research, conducted recently by a group of political
\nscientists in cooperation with the Netherlands Institute for
\nMultiparty Democracy (IMD), revealed that although the presence
\nof many parties in the last two elections had bought greater
\nchoice to the people, the performance of regional legislatures
\n(DPRDs) resulting from the elections were no better than those of
\nbodies during the New Order.<\/p>\n
\"As products of a democratic election, the DPRDs for the 1999-
\n2004 period polls are a little bit better than the current
\nregional legislatures since they managed to prove they no longer
\nserved as a rubber-stamp for the government's policies.<\/p>\n
\"The two, however, are alike in nature as their members sought
\nonly power and benefited from their institution as a stepping
\nstone to positions in government,\" Syamsuddin Haris, coordinator
\nof the researchers, said while presenting the results of the
\nstudy here on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
There were 48 political parties contesting the 1999 election,
\nand 24 parties competing in the 2004 polls.<\/p>\n
Syamsuddin said all political parties, except the Prosperous
\nPeace Party (PKS), were facing a crisis of legitimacy since they
\nfailed to provide an adequate space for the public to control
\ntheir internal matters.<\/p>\n
\"This means that there is no mechanism for the public to
\ncontrol the political and moral behavior of councillors and the
\nperformance of political parties in the DPRDs.<\/p>\n
\"Parties' branches at the provincial and regental levels
\nfailed to develop since most functionaries have moved to local
\nlegislatures,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Umar Anggara Jenie, chief of LIPI, said the internal conflict
\nplaguing several parties, including the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty of Struggle (PDI-P), National Awakening Party (PKB) and the
\nReformed Star Party (PBR), reflected the unaccountability of
\npolitical parties and the poor condition of democracy in regions.<\/p>\n
\"Party elites have been involved in internal conflicts in
\ntheir attempt to seek power rather than to implement party
\nprograms and answer to the people's aspirations,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Ichlasul Amal, the former rector of Gadjah Mada University in
\nYogyakarta, questioned the parties' contribution to the
\ndemocratization.<\/p>\n
\"It is not clear whether provincial, regental and municipal
\nlegislatures represent parties, the people, or conflicting
\ninterests in society,\" he said. Most parties were less-than
\ntransparent and did little to assess their accountability during
\ncongresses, he said.<\/p>\n
J. Kristiadi, a political scientist of the Centre for
\nStrategic International Studies (CSIS), said the poor performance
\nof most political parties was linked to the absence of a long-
\nterm political education programs.<\/p>\n
\"We do not have strong political parties because all existing
\nparties are relatively new and somewhat pragmatic and are only
\ngenerally active a few months before and after general
\nelections,\" said Kristiadi who likened parties as \"monsters
\nhunting for power.\"<\/p>\n
He said ideal parties should not only adopt a modern ideology
\nand policies, but should also operate rigid recruitment, career
\nplanning and education schemes for their members.<\/p>\n
The research team comprised Arbi Sanit of the University of
\nIndonesia, along with Lili Romli, Moch Nurhasim, Sri Nuryanti,
\nSri Yanuarti and Tri Ratnawati, all from the Indonesian Institute
\nof Sciences (LIPI).<\/p>\n
They conducted the one-year study in 15 regencies and
\nmayoralties in the provinces of North Sumatra, West Sumatra,
\nBanten, East Java, South Sulawesi and East Nusa Tenggara.<\/p>\n
The research included field studies, and interviews of
\ncouncillors, legislature speakers, regional government heads,
\njournalists and non-governmental organization activists.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/multiparty-system-has-not-improved-democracy-1447893297",
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