Analyst says PPP will win more votes in 1997 election
Analyst says PPP will win more votes in 1997 election
JAKARTA (JP): The United Development Party (PPP) should win
more votes in the May elections, coming chiefly at the expense of
the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), political observer Yusril
Ihza Mahendra said Saturday.
The PPP will get some extra votes, but not too many, Yusril
said.
"The prolonged bickering over the PDI leadership will help
improve the PPP's electoral chances," said the constitutional law
expert of University of Indonesia.
The PPP and PDI are the two minority parties contesting the
election against the mighty Golkar. In 1992, Golkar won 68
percent of the vote, against PPP's 17 and PDI's 15 percent.
Speaking after a book launch, Yusril said that in spite of its
minority position, the PPP has played its political cards much
more effectively than many people, even those in the PPP, have
given it credit for.
Many ideas originating from the party have been adopted by the
government, he said, citing improvements to the education system,
measures for controlling the distribution of alcohol, and the
poverty alleviation program.
"The PPP should be proud that many of its programs, offered
during the last election campaign, have been appropriated by
Golkar or the government," he said.
Party members should shed any inferiority complex they may
have for being a minority party.
"The PPP should continue to present ideas for social and
political reform," Yusril said. Reforms "will be the people's
focal interest in next year's election campaigns," he added.
He suggested party leaders concentrate more on drafting
programs for voters, rather than becoming obsessed with winning
votes.
"Winning a general election does not always mean winning the
most votes," he said.
He called for patience from party supporters, saying that
PPP's time could still come in the future.
"The PPP should take a lesson from the Social Democratic Party
of Germany, which rose to prominence only after about 100 years
of existence," he said. "Who knows, the PPP could become the
ruling party someday," he added. (imn)