Campaign contribution

If some of the campaign contributions that the United States' Democratic and Republican parties have been returning to their donators these past few weeks could find its way to the United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), the financial woes of the two minority parties would probably be over. The problem facing the two small parties, with the general election just over two months away, could not have been more startling when compared to the situation that has developed across the Pacific.

As PPP and PDI gear up for the month-long election campaign, which begins April 27, their leaders say they are on the verge of bankruptcy. Both depend heavily on government subsidies, not only for their daily operations, buildings and congresses, but also for the May 29 polls and the preceding election campaign. Currently, they have little in their coffers to prepare for the election.

The government has promised to distribute the campaign money soon, but it has not stated how much will be given to the three parties contesting the election. In 1992, it gave Rp 250 million ($104,000) to each of them. This year, PPP says it needs Rp 4 billion ($1.6 million) to take part in the election, including Rp 1.7 billion for the campaign. PDI says it needs Rp 1 billion for the campaign.

Golkar does not have any financial problems because it can count the generous contributions received from powerful business conglomerates, including the Lippo Group, which has been at the center of the campaign-contribution controversy in the United States. Unlike in the United States, campaign contribution in this country is not regulated.

But what corporations in their right minds would contribute to PPP and PDI? To be associated with the two parties is an almost sure recipe for business failure, especially at a time of increasing economic competition. As much as we abhor saying it, money and politics do mix. In business, a campaign contribution is regarded as an investment, a political investment. There is no such thing as charity.

PPP and PDI should scrape through the election with the tiny government subsidies as they have done in the previous five elections. They will receive some contributions, chiefly from candidates in return for the privilege of being nominated by their party, especially those who eventually get elected.

The campaign-funding issue has exposed one of the biggest flaws of the general election and the entire political system that we adhere to. If they are still dependent on government handouts, can the two minority parties really mount a serious challenge to Golkar and the government? Some people may dislike the term handouts, but who are they kidding? PPP and PDI cannot be independent as long as they are not financially independent.

This says a lot about our political system. Until Indonesia makes changes to the system, to one that makes political parties genuinely independent, PPP and PDI will have to contend with playing their roles as minority parties -- making up the number in election after election -- in a system that ensures victory for Golkar.

The election has often been officially described as a "fiesta of democracy". One can't help wonder what the PPP and PDI have in store for the nation during the campaign period, given the restrictive campaign rules and their individual financial problems.