Elections in Indonesia

With the final round of the presidential election around the corner, it is perhaps the right time to compare the pros and cons of two methods employed in electing the CEO of a country: A "direct" election -- as is practiced in the U.S. and France and some other countries -- and the indirect method -- as practiced by Great Britain and India -- wherein the members of parliament choose the CEO. It is really admirable that Indonesia has chosen the very good method of direct election with the motto, Presiden pilihan rakyat (a president of the people's choice).

In the first round, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Megawati Soekarnoputri and Wiranto were in a tight race and many predicted a direct confrontation between the two ex-generals (Susilo and Wiranto) in the runoff. But Megawati came in second, and the results of the final round between Susilo and Megawati are still wide open, as per the political pundits.

One thing surprises me: Unlike in the U.S., where the vice presidential and presidential candidates of both the Democratic and Republican party are from the same party, the picture here is totally different. In the U.S., the vice presidential candidate is chosen more on regional considerations. They are generally from an area where the presidential candidate may lack support.

But in Indonesia, there is total porosity across the party lines. I am honestly wondering what the losing "running mate" will do later. Will they return to their old party meekly? Will their old party accept them back, or call them a traitor? Or will they launch a new party, as Indian politicians often do? I feel that if Susilo and Megawati had selected their running mates on regional considerations rather than party ones, it would have been more logical.

One thing is very clear. The new president will enjoy the confidence of the people and will not be subjected to any horse trading that goes on, for example, in India where the factions of the coalition government jockey for prime slots in the cabinet. Or, what happened when then president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid was removed from office and Megawati was elected.

To that extent, I admire the people/politicians of Indonesia who were behind the decision to hold two-tier direct elections. Whoever wins on Sept. 20 will rule the country with confidence and with the full authority to do what he or she thinks is good for the country.

K.B. KALE, Jakarta