Minor parties split support

Minor parties split support

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta

Minor parties that did not garner significant votes in the April
5 general election are throwing their support behind the six
pairings contesting the July 5 presidential election.

Christian-based Prosperous Peace Party (PDS) decided on
Tuesday to back the Megawati Soekarnoputri-Hasyim Muzadi pairing
of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P),
which won 109 seats in the legislative election. The newly
established PDS won 12 seats in the House of Representatives
(DPR).

Only those parties or coalitions that garnered a minimum 3
percent of House seats or 5 percent of all votes in the
legislative election are allowed to field candidates for the
presidential election.

Megawati is the incumbent President and PDI-P leader, while
Hasyim Muzadi is chairman of the country's largest Muslim
organization, the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).

"The PDI-P welcomes other parties to join us, but I believe we
must have common interests and platforms to be able to truly work
together," Megawati said at a function marking the alliance
between the PDI-P and the PDS.

Megawati, in her capacity as PDI-P leader, and PDS chairman
Ruyandi Hutasoit signed a declaration that the PDS would campaign
for the Megawati-Hasyim pairing.

PDI-P deputy secretary-general Pramono Anung Wibowo said
several other parties had also expressed their intention to
support Megawati and Hasyim.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Unity Party (PSI), Freedom Bull
National Party (PNBK) and the Marhaenisme Indonesian National
Party (PNI Marhaenisme) had hinted earlier that they would
support the Amien Rais-Siswono Yudhohusodo pairing of the
National Mandate Party (PAN).

The United Democratic Nationhood Party (PPDK) has decided to
back the Gen. (ret) Wiranto-Solahuddin Wahid pairing of the
Golkar Party, a move that has prompted party cofounder Andi
Malarangeng to resign from the party.

The National Awakening Party (PKB) has indicated it will fly
the Golkar banner if their own presidential candidate,
Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, fails the mandatory health check.

Analysts criticized the moves of the elites of minor parties,
saying that the maneuver was simply a last-ditch effort to stay
in the game.

Political analyst Denny JA said the elites of minor parties
simply needed to make new steps after failing to achieve the five
percent threshold.

"The support is simply a new way invented by the chairmen of
these parties to hold on to their political roles, but they did
not consider that their decision might not influence voters,"
Denny told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

He said providing support in exchange for positions or other
forms of compensation may be in vain, as 80 percent of voters
were not listening to party leaders in making their selection.

Saldi Isra, an analyst from state-owned university of Andalas,
West Sumatra, shared the view, saying that candidates would be
disadvantaged by too much support from minor parties.

"When they win, they must at least give them seats in the
Cabinet, while there is no guarantee that minor party leaders
have much influence over their followers," Saldi said.

Meanwhile, Susilo and Kalla met on Tuesday 363 would-be
campaigners, who are members of Yudhoyono's Democratic Party, the
Crescent Star Party (PBB) or the Indonesian Justice and Unity
Party (PKPI).

The meeting was attended by Democratic Party chairman S.
Budhisantoso, PBB chairman Yusril Ihza Mahendra and PKPI chairman
Gen. (ret) Sudrajat.