Political parties face difficulties from hegemony<\/p>\n
SEMARANG, Central Java (JP): Hegemony and pragmatism in
\nIndonesian politics have denied political parties of their right
\nto be independent, an expert here has said.<\/p>\n
Dr. Afan Gaffar, a political expert from the University of
\nGadjah Mada in Yogyakarta told a seminar here yesterday that
\nrepressive conditions have placed the United Development Party
\n(PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) in an unfavorable
\nposition.<\/p>\n
\"On the other hand,\" Afan said, \"the system has provided the
\nopportunity for Golkar to win an absolute majority in all general
\nelections,\" he said in a seminar on the independence of political
\nparties in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
He added that in this country the role of the two other
\npolitical parties has been weakened.<\/p>\n
According to the observer, political hegemony is the direct
\nproduct of Indonesia's election process, the way leaders are
\nrecruited, ineffective party programs and internal conflicts
\nwithin these political parties.<\/p>\n
The present general election system has given vast power to
\nthe Minister of Home Affairs, who is also chairman of the
\nelection committee, Afan said.<\/p>\n
He added that situation has been worsened by the right of
\nmilitary authorities to screen candidates for the legislative
\nbodies and party activists, allowing the administration to hand
\npick only \"accommodative candidates.\"<\/p>\n
According to Afan, the election system, especially the
\nmethods of voter registration and ballot counting, is designed to
\nperpetuate and defend the current political system.<\/p>\n
When recruiting the leaders of social and political
\norganizations, the administration also sets certain criteria in
\nsuch a way that only those politicians willing to cooperate with
\nthe super-structure can be elected.<\/p>\n
Afan said the parties' programs are subject to negotiation
\nwith the authorities, who play a dominant role in the election
\nprocess.<\/p>\n
He said that the administration has become so domineering that
\nthe political parties even have to negotiate the contents of
\ncampaign speeches with the election committee.<\/p>\n
Mere symbols<\/p>\n
\"Political parties have been reduced to mere symbols,\" Afan
\nsaid. He added that attempts to make PDI the party of the less
\nprivileged and PPP the party of justice have essentially failed.<\/p>\n
However, Afan said that not all of the failures were caused
\nby the intervention of \"outside elements.\"<\/p>\n
\"The internal conflicts which have hit PDI and PPP since
\ntheir birth in 1973 have painted a blurry picture of the
\nIndonesian political system, he said.<\/p>\n
Afan hoped that an emerging middle class would foster
\nindependent political parties.<\/p>\n
Bintang Pamungkas, an outspoken legislator of the PPP, told
\nthe seminar that the lack of party independence was caused by the
\nadministration's dominant role in preserving stability.<\/p>\n
He said the government needs stability to secure the success
\nof the nation's development programs. To make the policy
\neffective the administration places cabinet ministers in the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly, which is the country's highest
\nlaw-making body, and civilian and military leaders in the House
\nof Representatives (DPR).<\/p>\n
\"The DPR has no capacity to sponsor any bill because it has
\nbecome subordinate to the administration. (har\/tis)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/political-parties-face-difficulties-from-hegemony-1447893297",
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