Politicians busy
\nmobilizing forces<\/p>\n
From Rakyat Merdeka<\/p>\n
Whatever you call it, a meeting of politicians is one intended
\nto mobilize forces to win the general election in 2004.<\/p>\n
This, of course, refers to a meeting of representatives of
\nIslamic political parties held at the initiative of Amien Rais,
\nYusril Ihza Mahendra and Nurhidayat of the Justice Party. Or a
\nmeeting held by Arifin Panigoro, or still a meeting between
\nTaufik Kiemas and former president Abdurrahman Wahid.<\/p>\n
There is nothing wrong with such meetings. Everybody knows
\nthat all political parties are now getting ready for the 2004
\ngeneral election. Remember, politics means tactics.<\/p>\n
In this context, Taufik Kiemas did the right thing in
\napproaching Gus Dur. On paper, his party, the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), will win the same
\npercentage of votes as last election (33 percent). Gus Dur's
\nparty, the National Awakening Party (PKB), is also expected to
\ncollect 17 percent of all votes, the same percentage as in the
\nprevious elections.<\/p>\n
So a coalition between PDI Perjuangan and PKB could collect 50
\npercent of all the votes. If the new law on general elections
\ncomes into effect before the 2004 elections, military and police
\npersonnel will have the right to vote, and in this case PDI
\nPerjuangan may get an additional 2 percent of the vote.<\/p>\n
In all, a coalition between PDI Perjuangan and PKB could
\ncollect 52 percent of the vote. This would mean that without even
\npartnering with Golkar, PDI Perjuangan could control a majority
\nof seats in the House of Representatives and foil the emergence
\nof the Central Axis II.<\/p>\n
It is hoped, therefore, that a Central Axis II will never come
\ninto being, because the new members of the House of
\nRepresentatives and the People's Consultative Assembly from the
\n2004 elections will be immune to New Order viruses and political
\norchestration.<\/p>\n
E. SUHERMAN<\/p>\n
Bandung<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/politicians-busy-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }