Coalition dilemma?

Coalition dilemma?

From Media Indonesia

The first round of the presidential election enabled Indonesians to exercise their sovereignty by directly voting for their favorite candidate. Now the General Elections Commission has announced the two candidates for the second round of the election.

This event suggests a fundamental change in the execution of people's right to elect their leaders, which is now done directly instead of through their representatives, as was the case for over 30 years under the New Order regime.

Now in the reform era, the first round of the presidential election offered five pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates. In the coming runoff, only two of the five pairs of candidates are remaining.

The second round, scheduled for Sept. 20, is only about a month away. Media reports describe how political parties are seeking coalitions with one another, while other parties are remaining neutral.

The question is: By making such moves, where are these parties lading the population? Voters elect their leaders by using their conscience and reasoning, whereas the parties employ their political machinery and public figures. Here lies the dilemma of coalitions.

PURWANTO KITUNG

Jakarta