PDI gets new name

JAKARTA: One of the parties formed during the early years of the New Order, the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), has changed its name to the Upholder of Indonesian Democracy Party (PDI Party).

Declaring the new name was former chairman Soerjadi during a ceremony here on Tuesday. The party changed its name in order to be allowed to contest the 2004 general elections.

In the 1999 election, PDI won less than 2 percent of votes, burying its hopes of participating in the 2004 election, as the election law adopted a 2 percent electoral threshold.

The law states that a party which does not meet the threshold must either form a coalition with another party or register as a new party to contest the election.

Soerjadi chairs PDI Party's advisory council, Dimmy Haryanto chairs the party, and Yoseph Lea Wea is the party's secretary general. -- Antara