PDI-P sets target in local elections
PDI-P sets target in local elections
M. Taufiqurrahman and Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has changed
the much criticized selection of candidates for regional
executive posts, which in the past was determined by the central
board.
Pramono Anung Wibowo, the newly elected PDI-P secretary-
general, said over the weekend that the party had selected its
candidates through a regional convention that reached out to the
grass roots.
"The convention involved people from the lowest level of the
party structure, which is the grass roots, up to regional
offices. Therefore, the grass roots and the party elite will come
to an agreement regarding eligible candidates," he told The
Jakarta Post, adding that the central board's role had been
reduced to confirming the nominations.
The PDI-P crashed to a defeat in both the legislative and
presidential elections last year, largely due to the loss of
trust among grassroots members, who were disappointed that the
central board failed to heed their wishes.
The central board's intervention in the selection process of
candidates for governorships in Jakarta, Central Java, Lampung
and East Kalimantan are a few examples of the PDI-P elite's
failure to accommodate aspirations from the grass roots.
Pramono said the new selection procedure would not only ensure
democracy, but also make it easy for the party to determine
eligible candidates.
The party has also set criteria for candidates, which takes
into account their performance and track records.
"We encourage candidates who have been in office only for a
first term to bid for reelection, provided that they are not
involved in a legal case or have tainted images," Pramono said.
The PDI-P, he said, had rejected the reelection bid of one
incumbent regent in Bali after he lost to his contender in the
local convention. The contender won PDI-P approval instead,
Pramono added.
The country will see direct elections for 215 regents and
mayors and 11 governors this year, starting in June. The
unprecedented direct local elections followed the presidential
election, which won international plaudits as the most democratic
ever in the country.
Unlike Golkar, which is bidding for victory in 60 percent of
regional administrations in the country, the PDI-P has set its
sights on winning at least 158 executive posts in provinces and
regencies where the party prevailed in the previous local
elections.
Pramono said the party was ready to form a coalition with
other parties, including Golkar, to maintain its performance.
"Our target is not superfluous, it's just to retain the
regional executive posts we won in the previous polls in
provinces, mayoralties and regencies," Pramono said.
A coalition will be sought only if the PDI-P fails to meet the
electoral threshold of 15 percent of the vote, he added.
The party also established during its congress a special body
to focus on strategies to help it win local and other elections.
"We have branches in 442 regencies and mayoralties plus 30
provincial offices. That means we will have to compete in almost
one and a half regional elections every day. Therefore a special
body is required," he said.
Reelected leader Megawati Soekarnoputri named Tjahjo Kumolo,
who also chairs the party's faction at the House of
Representatives, the head of the new body.