Political parties' neutrality wise

Political parties' neutrality wise

After much debate, the National Awakening Party (PKB) has
finally decided to stay neutral in the second round of the
presidential election on Sept. 20. Previously, the National
Mandate party (PAN) also took a similar stand. Their decisions
are not strange, given that their candidates failed in the first
round of the election. But while their decisions were the same,
their was a stark contrast between their reasons for doing so.

What actually occurred in the recent PKB meeting was that most
of the party's branches tended to support Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono. A similar situation happened in PAN. PAN's plenary
session decided to be neutral, although 55 percent of the
delegates present supported Susilo.

Both PKB and PAN have decided to be neutral but for different
reasons. The PKB decided to be neutral to avoid confusion among
NU members due to the strong polarization between Abdurrahman
"Gus Dur" Wahid and Hasyim Muzadi.

Staying out of coalitions and in opposition is in line with
the character of PAN chairman, Amien Rais. There, the party would
serve to remind us of its historical role in defying former
president Soeharto and in leading the reform movement.

Above all, these parties' decisions to be neutral are an
illustration of the fundamental change that has been made to the
political system -- the institution of the direct presidential
election.

This new system prompts the political elite to look not to
themselves but to the people to decide the result of the poll.

Amid the coalitions formed by the two rival presidential
candidates, the PKB and PAN's decision to be neutral strikes one
as meaningful and wise. -- Media Indonesia, Jakarta