Central dominance foils selection of candidates

Central dominance foils selection of candidates

Oyos Saroso H.N., The Jakarta Post, Bandarlampung

Several members of the Democratic Party's Bandarlampung branch
executive board (DPC) are dejected, not because they lost in the
direct regional leadership election but because their candidacy
was not supported by the party's Central Executive Board (DPP).
Even though they had gone through a tough selection process, they
were rejected unconditionally by the DPP.

The DPP not only rejected the selected candidates, but
required the DPC to conduct the selection all over again.

The party has selected three mayoral candidates and two
nominees for vice mayor since the screening started two months
ago.

A member of the party's DPP and also party coordinator for
Lampung province, Sutan Bathoegana, said that the central
executive board had not gone through the right mechanism by not
involving the DPP in the selection process.

The decision, which was disclosed last week, has caused
concern among the party's Regional Representatives Council (DPD),
because after promising to facilitate the renomination process,
there has been no directions from the DPP on selection guidelines
for candidates.

Chairman of Bandarlampung Democratic Party's DPC, Gafriyanto,
said that technical guidelines from the DPP were badly needed so
that the selection conducted by the DPC would not be pointless
and disappoint the mayoral candidates.

An important item included in the technical guidelines is the
provision of full authority to the Team of Nine (a selection team
consisting of the DPC, DPD and DPP) in appointing the candidates
for regional heads of government.

Sutan Bathoegana said that the DPP would allow the DPC to
recommend names for mayoral candidates, but the final decision
would still be in the hands of the team.

"A difference in vision between the DPP and DPC is to be
expected. I'm sure there'll be like ideas and it won't become
much of a problem after we hold a meeting," he said.

The disappointment of the Democratic Party's DPC leaders in
Bandarlampung shows how strong the central domination over those
in the regions is. Party leaders at the central level may decide
who they regard as suitable to run in the election, while
regional leaders claim they are better informed about candidates
they deem qualified to contest.

Other parties in Lampung face a similar situation, with Golkar
being an exception.

Nearly all of its candidates in the five places holding the
direct election on June 27 must be approved by Alzier Dianis
Thabranie. Alzier is the chairman of Lampung's Golkar Regional
Representatives Council who has recently returned to the fold
after having jumped fence to PDI-P for the past three years.
Alzier is a veteran politician and prominent figure in Lampung.

Despite having decided that one of the candidates (mayor or
deputy mayor) should come from among the party members, the
Golkar DPC has submitted a pair of candidates from outside the
party, using Alzier as guarantor.

They are Sjachrazad Z.P., the former Bandarlampung municipal
secretary and younger brother of Lampung governor Sjachroedin
Z.P. and Rudy Syawal Sugiarto, an official at the Bandarlampung
municipal administration.

Golkar DPP leaders had questioned their nomination, but due to
Alzier's assurance that they were "the best", the DPP members
eventually relented. An extravagant commemoration ceremony was
held for the pair last week.

"Sjachrazad is an experienced bureaucrat and a native son of
Lampung, while Rudy Syawal is a young man with potential of
Javanese origin. If you want to garner the most votes, this is
the most suitable pair," said Alzier, explaining why no Golkar
members were nominated.

A political observer from Bandarlampung University, Jauhai
Zailani, said that strong dominance from the central level had
prevented political parties from selecting potential leaders for
the regional government.

"This shows that none of the political parties have included
their constituents in the selection process, but only those at
the elite level. It means that the flow of money will end up in
the pockets of the same people. The public will be constantly
left out," said Zailani.