Golkar fails in West Sumatra poll
Syofiardi Bachyul Jb, The Jakarta Post, Padang
The mighty Golkar Party looks to have failed in winning most of its candidates up in West Sumatra's direct regional elections, despite its vast experience and huge party infrastructure. The failure was attributed to its mistakes in choosing popular candidates, a scholar says.
During the June 27 direct regional elections, the Golkar Party not only lost the governor's post, but it also failed to win regent and mayoral posts in 10 regencies and municipalities. While votes are still being counted, the provisional tally shows that candidates nominated by the Golkar Party have fared poorly.
In the election for provincial governor, Golkar Party candidates Leonardy Harmaini and Rusdi Lubis came a poor four out of the five teams contesting the election, with 187,227 votes or 10.32 percent of a possible 1.86 million votes. The number of votes obtained by Leonardy-Rusdi was far below that of the winning team in the election, Gamawan Fauzi and Marlis Rahman, who were jointly nominated by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and the Crescent Star Party (PBB). In the election, Gamawan and Marlis won 41.56 percent of the vote, or 754,343 votes.
In the regency and municipality elections, Golkar Party candidates only won in two regions, namely Solok regency and Solok municipality.
The failure has dealt severe blow to the Golkar Party as before the direct regional elections, Golkar had always won regional elections. Possessing political skills, a vast party infrastructure and strong backing from the Indonesian military, the Golkar Party was always able to convince and or compel councillors to vote for regional leaders nominated by Golkar. The glory days however have come to an end, with regional leaders now being determined by direct election rather than by legislatures.
Ranny Emilia, a political observer from Andalas University in Padang, commented that Golkar's failure was because of mounting disappointment with the big political parties, notably Golkar.
"Elections in West Sumatra have proven that money, personal appearances and a big party is not a guarantee of success. People prefer to choose figure that can bring change," said Ranny.
Golkar Party and other big parties chose candidates with money, but they forgot that money was not everything.
"Gamawan and Marlis do not have money but people voted for them because the public trusts them. They believe the pair could bring a chance, and combat corruption in West Sumatra," said Ranny.
Separately, deputy chairman of Golkar's West Sumatra chapter Yonda Jabar said the party was evaluating the defeat.
Candidate pairs most likely win in June 27 West Sumatra elections No Regions Pairs Parties ================================================================== 1. Bukittinggi Djufri-Ismet Amzis The Crescent Star
municipality Party (PBB)
2. Agam regency Aristo Munandar PBB and Merdeka Party
and Ardinal Hasan
3. Padang Pariaman Muslim Kasim and The National Mandate
regency Ali Mukhni Party (PAN) and PDI-P
4. Pasaman regency Yusuf Lubis and PBB, PAN and the
Hamdy Burhan Prosperous Justice
Party (PKS)
5. West Pasaman Syahiran-Risnawanto PBB and PDI-P
regency
6. Limapuluh Kota Amri Darwis-Irfendi PBB, PAN, PKS
regency 7. Dhamasraya Marlon and Tugimin PDI-P and PAN
regency 8. South Solok Syafrizal PKS and the Indonesian
regency and Nurfirmansyah Justice and
Unity Party (PKPI)
9. Solok regency Gusmal and Desra Golkar Party
10. Solok Syamsu Rahim and Golkar Party and PBB
municipality Irzal Ilyas
11. West Sumatra Gamawan and Marlis PDI-P and PBB
province ================================================================== Source: West Sumatra KPU