People distrust political parties: LP3ES survey

People distrust political parties: LP3ES survey

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A recent poll revealed widespread distrust in political parties
by people who said the parties failed to heed their aspirations.

Respondents were doubtful that the increasing number of
political parties ahead of the 2004 general election would mean
improved communication between parties and their constituents.

A poll conducted by the Institute for Economic and Social
Research, Education and Information (LP3ES) indicated that 64
percent of people surveyed did not believe that the existing
parties would live up to people's aspirations.

LP3ES deputy director E. Shobirin Nadj said that the poll
indicated the thoughts of the majority of the people.

"Most respondents do not believe that the political parties
accommodate their aspirations," Shobirin told a media briefing
here on Thursday.

Shobirin was accompanied by LP3ES staffers Rahadi T. Wiratama
and Wildan Pramudya Arifin, who had been involved in the
research.

LP3ES carried out the research in urban and rural areas in 13
provinces from May 1 through 12, 2003, to find out the opinion of
people on the increasing number of political parties. Some 3,000
respondents were surveyed via face-to-face interviews.

The survey disclosed that Golkar was the least distrusted
party, as 19 percent of respondents thought that the party fought
for people's interests. Most respondents (35 percent) did not
give an evaluation and 23 percent said no political party took
into account people's aspirations.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
won support from 9 percent of respondents, followed by the United
Development Party (PPP) and the National Awakening Party (PKB),
with 3 percent and 2 percent respectively.

Golkar finished second in the 1999 election after PDI
Perjuangan.

Regarding the "popularity" of Golkar, the poll revealed that
the opinion was expressed more strongly by people in rural areas
(20 percent) than in urban areas (17 percent).

Responding to the query, "What party would you vote for should
the election be held tomorrow?" most respondents (55 percent)
gave no answer.

Golkar was chosen by 18 percent of respondents, far ahead of
PDI Perjuangan (7 percent), PPP (5 percent), the National Mandate
Party (4 percent), PKB (2 percent), and the Justice Party (2
percent).

The poll also revealed that 64 percent of respondents wanted a
limitation on the number of political parties, with 13 percent of
respondents rejecting a limitation, and the rest having no idea.

Shobirin said the desire to limit the number of political
parties was not new. A similar survey last year showed that 82
percent of 1,250 respondents wanted fewer political parties.

When asked about the ideal number of political parties, most
respondents (55 percent) said there should be one to five parties
only, while 28 percent wanted the number of political parties to
be limited to between six and 10.