Amien Rais' election

Tuesday evening's election of the People's Consultative Assembly speaker, broadcast live by a private TV station, gave the impression that democracy in Indonesia has been successfully resuscitated.

Many people later said they had been caught by surprise by the nomination of Mohammad Amien Rais, who was one among many candidates from bigger political groupings. Amien is chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN), which emerged from the June general election with only 7 percent of the vote.

Moreover, talk around town had it that Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) leader Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid would be given the post. Politicians of some leading parties had earlier said that Gus Dur, whose followers regard him as "the nation's guru", was fit to lead the nation's highest constitutional body.

As the counting of the ballot continued late into the night and had people on the edge of their seats, the result staggered even more people. Amien won the election. Reports said that he was not only supported by his caucus, the "axis force", but also by the Golkar Party, the second largest political party behind the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).

Judging by Amien's declining popularity within his own party, many observers doubt that many PAN members voted for him in the election.

The runner-up of the election was Matori Abdul Jalil, chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB), whose supporters consist of NU members. PKB has been PDI Perjuangan's dedicated bedfellow for months.

Amien and Matori have their own pluses and minuses. Amien has a better educational background. He got his doctorate decree from Chicago University, the U.S., but has less political experience than Matori, who was secretary-general of the United Development Party (PPP) and a member of the House of Representatives for years.

But Matori was educated at home, and mostly at Islamic traditional schools. Amien was also largely recognized as the vanguard of reform and together with Jakarta students he played a pivotal role in the struggle to force president Soeharto to resign last year.

In this political map, the support given to Amien and elements of the Golkar Party cannot possibly be understood by many, since the party has reportedly reached an undeclared agreement with PDI Perjuangan.

Many believe a deal was made between Golkar and Amien. While the truth of this notion still has to be proven, one thing is true: PDI Perjuangan evidently suffered a loss at Matori's failure. But few believe PDI Perjuangan's disappointment will affect the election of its chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri to the presidency three weeks from now, for which the party will depend so much upon the support of Golkar members.

Such expectation is no secret in today's political game in a nation that is new at democracy. Such a game seems to have been ubiquitously reflected in the focus of the game, with parties fielding all sorts of figures and declaring who deserved which post, instead of concentrating on getting the system right and working out the program.

This political culture might prompt ambitious politicians to practice the dirty game of money politics, which many believe has been covertly pursued. It is also possible we will see a trace of tragic comedy in which a certain group will pull the rug out from under some self-assertive lame-duck presidential aspirant. This trend in no way helps the country, which is facing a calamitous, multidimensional crisis.

In the wake of Amien Rais' triumph, many are convinced that the professor of political science and former leader of Muhammadiyah, the country's second largest Muslim organization, is not a bad choice. He was outspoken even under Soeharto's iron- fisted rule. We hope his ascent to the position of Assembly speaker will not see the reform movement veer from its ideal.

Since he now holds the country's highest job, we also hope he will act as a true statesman, improve his personal style where democratic values are concerned and be more consistent in his stance, for example by only making statements which he can translate into practice.