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