Minor parties split support for presidential pairings

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.