{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1458579,
        "msgid": "political-parties-neutrality-wise-1447893297",
        "date": "2004-09-07 00:00:00",
        "title": "Political parties' neutrality wise",
        "author": null,
        "source": "MI",
        "tags": null,
        "topic": null,
        "summary": "Political parties' neutrality wise After much debate, the National Awakening Party (PKB) has finally decided to stay neutral in the second round of the presidential election on Sept. 20. Previously, the National Mandate party (PAN) also took a similar stand. Their decisions are not strange, given that their candidates failed in the first round of the election. But while their decisions were the same, their was a stark contrast between their reasons for doing so.",
        "content": "<p>Political parties' neutrality wise<\/p>\n<p>After much debate, the National Awakening Party (PKB) has<br>\nfinally decided to stay neutral in the second round of the<br>\npresidential election on Sept. 20. Previously, the National<br>\nMandate party (PAN) also took a similar stand. Their decisions<br>\nare not strange, given that their candidates failed in the first<br>\nround of the election. But while their decisions were the same,<br>\ntheir was a stark contrast between their reasons for doing so.<\/p>\n<p>What actually occurred in the recent PKB meeting was that most<br>\nof the party's branches tended to support Susilo Bambang<br>\nYudhoyono. A similar situation happened in PAN. PAN's plenary<br>\nsession decided to be neutral, although 55 percent of the<br>\ndelegates present supported Susilo.<\/p>\n<p>Both PKB and PAN have decided to be neutral but for different<br>\nreasons. The PKB decided to be neutral to avoid confusion among<br>\nNU members due to the strong polarization between Abdurrahman<br>\n\"Gus Dur\" Wahid and Hasyim Muzadi.<\/p>\n<p>Staying out of coalitions and in opposition is in line with<br>\nthe character of PAN chairman, Amien Rais. There, the party would<br>\nserve to remind us of its historical role in defying former<br>\npresident Soeharto and in leading the reform movement.<\/p>\n<p>Above all, these parties' decisions to be neutral are an<br>\nillustration of the fundamental change that has been made to the<br>\npolitical system -- the institution of the direct presidential<br>\nelection.<\/p>\n<p>This new system prompts the political elite to look not to<br>\nthemselves but to the people to decide the result of the poll.<\/p>\n<p>Amid the coalitions formed by the two rival presidential<br>\ncandidates, the PKB and PAN's decision to be neutral strikes one<br>\nas meaningful and wise. -- Media Indonesia, Jakarta<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/political-parties-neutrality-wise-1447893297",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}