Political platform decisive factor for party coalitions<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Political parties should form coalitions based on common
\npolitical platforms, instead of short-term political interests,
\nand do it well before the election as a good start to forming a
\nstrong government, according to several political experts.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the deliberation by the House of Representatives
\non the presidential election bill, analysts said that political
\ncoalitions based on short-term interests would only create an
\nineffective government in the future.<\/p>\n
Article 5 of the bill stipulates that presidential candidates
\nshould be nominated by political parties or party coalitions
\nsimultaneously with the nomination of candidates of legislative
\nmembers.<\/p>\n
There is, however, no regulation that makes clear whether a
\ncoalition should be based on a political platform or simply on
\npolitical interests to contend presidential elections.<\/p>\n
Jimly Ashiddiqie, a law expert at the University of Indonesia
\n(UI) in Jakarta and Saldi Isra, a political expert at the Padang-
\nbased Andalas University suggested that the coalition formation
\nshould be based on platform similarities.<\/p>\n
Political parties are expected to form coalitions in facing
\nthe general and presidential elections because none was expected
\nto win a single majority in the 2004 elections.<\/p>\n
\"If the coalition is simply based on short-term interests to
\nwin the presidency, it will only create \"horse trading\" among
\npolitical parties. Such coalitions will easily break up in near
\nfuture and will not be able to form a strong government,\" Jimly
\ntold The Jakarta Post by phone on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Saldi concurred, suggesting that the coalition should be based
\non similar platform or idea. Perhaps, he said, some parties have
\nsimilar goals to bring the nation out of the multidimensional
\ncrisis.<\/p>\n
They feared that if the coalition was based on short-term
\ninterests, the difference of their ideology or platform would
\nweaken the coalition.<\/p>\n
On a series of hearings with special committee deliberating
\nthe presidential elections bill, however, Minister of Home
\nAffairs Hari Sabarno clearly said that the coalition was only
\ndesigned for short-term goals, namely the presidential
\nnomination.<\/p>\n
Hari simply said that the bill was designed to ensure the
\nelected president originated from a political party or coalition
\nwhich dominates the legislature.<\/p>\n
According to him, this condition would help create a strong
\ngovernment in which the president gets the support of
\nlegislators.<\/p>\n
Besides calling for political parties to use common ideology
\nas a basis for coalitions, both Jimly and Saldi suggested that
\nthe coalitions should be made as early as possible to win support
\nfrom prospective voters.<\/p>\n
The earlier the coalition was made, Saldi said, it would help
\nthe public or voters to be rational in casting their votes.<\/p>\n
\"Let's say that the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
\n(PDI Perjuangan) and Golkar have built a coalition for the
\npresidential election. Will the people vote for such a
\ncoalition?\" Saldi asked.<\/p>\n
He emphasized that the earlier the political parties declare a
\ncoalition, the more it would benefit voters.<\/p>\n
Similarly, the minister said that the bill encourages
\npolitical parties or coalitions \"to market\" their presidential
\nand vice presidential candidates during the campaign.<\/p>\n
He added that the presidential candidates and their respective
\npolitical parties could not be separated.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/political-platform-decisive-factor-for-party-coalitions-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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