Golkar fails in West Sumatra poll

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