PDI-P sets target in local elections<\/p>\n
M. Taufiqurrahman and Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has changed
\nthe much criticized selection of candidates for regional
\nexecutive posts, which in the past was determined by the central
\nboard.<\/p>\n
Pramono Anung Wibowo, the newly elected PDI-P secretary-
\ngeneral, said over the weekend that the party had selected its
\ncandidates through a regional convention that reached out to the
\ngrass roots.<\/p>\n
\"The convention involved people from the lowest level of the
\nparty structure, which is the grass roots, up to regional
\noffices. Therefore, the grass roots and the party elite will come
\nto an agreement regarding eligible candidates,\" he told The
\nJakarta Post, adding that the central board's role had been
\nreduced to confirming the nominations.<\/p>\n
The PDI-P crashed to a defeat in both the legislative and
\npresidential elections last year, largely due to the loss of
\ntrust among grassroots members, who were disappointed that the
\ncentral board failed to heed their wishes.<\/p>\n
The central board's intervention in the selection process of
\ncandidates for governorships in Jakarta, Central Java, Lampung
\nand East Kalimantan are a few examples of the PDI-P elite's
\nfailure to accommodate aspirations from the grass roots.<\/p>\n
Pramono said the new selection procedure would not only ensure
\ndemocracy, but also make it easy for the party to determine
\neligible candidates.<\/p>\n
The party has also set criteria for candidates, which takes
\ninto account their performance and track records.<\/p>\n
\"We encourage candidates who have been in office only for a
\nfirst term to bid for reelection, provided that they are not
\ninvolved in a legal case or have tainted images,\" Pramono said.<\/p>\n
The PDI-P, he said, had rejected the reelection bid of one
\nincumbent regent in Bali after he lost to his contender in the
\nlocal convention. The contender won PDI-P approval instead,
\nPramono added.<\/p>\n
The country will see direct elections for 215 regents and
\nmayors and 11 governors this year, starting in June. The
\nunprecedented direct local elections followed the presidential
\nelection, which won international plaudits as the most democratic
\never in the country.<\/p>\n
Unlike Golkar, which is bidding for victory in 60 percent of
\nregional administrations in the country, the PDI-P has set its
\nsights on winning at least 158 executive posts in provinces and
\nregencies where the party prevailed in the previous local
\nelections.<\/p>\n
Pramono said the party was ready to form a coalition with
\nother parties, including Golkar, to maintain its performance.<\/p>\n
\"Our target is not superfluous, it's just to retain the
\nregional executive posts we won in the previous polls in
\nprovinces, mayoralties and regencies,\" Pramono said.<\/p>\n
A coalition will be sought only if the PDI-P fails to meet the
\nelectoral threshold of 15 percent of the vote, he added.<\/p>\n
The party also established during its congress a special body
\nto focus on strategies to help it win local and other elections.<\/p>\n
\"We have branches in 442 regencies and mayoralties plus 30
\nprovincial offices. That means we will have to compete in almost
\none and a half regional elections every day. Therefore a special
\nbody is required,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Reelected leader Megawati Soekarnoputri named Tjahjo Kumolo,
\nwho also chairs the party's faction at the House of
\nRepresentatives, the head of the new body.<\/p>",
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