PPP needs changes in leadership, LSI survey says
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A day ahead of the national gathering of the United Development Party (PPP), a survey by the Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI) revealed on Thursday that the popularity of the country's largest Islamic political party may further tumble at the next general election unless changes are made in the party's leadership.
Denny J.A., executive director of LSI, said that based on the results of a recent survey, the party's popularity tumbled to 7th place, garnering only 2.6 percent of votes.
"If an election were to be held today, PPP would not pass the minimum threshold and would turn into a minor party," Denny said at a seminar held by Young Generation of Indonesian Development (GMPI), the youth wing of PPP, prior to a 3-day national gathering of the party starting on Friday.
PPP obtained 8.15 percent of votes in last year's general election, placing the party as the fourth largest in the House of Representatives. However, Hamzah Haz, the party's chairman, lost the presidential election, having garnered only three percent of the vote.
Because of these losses, several groups within the party have for some time insisted on holding a national gathering to accelerate changes in the party's leadership, despite the central board's opposition.
Denny explained that there were signs that former PPP voters shifted their votes to the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), another Islamic-based party, in last year's elections because its campaigns were more attractive to voters.
"There is a new joke now: 'Check out of PPP and check into PKS.' Most of our voters thought the PPP executed some self- destructive maneuvers, such as joining the Nationhood Coalition instead of advocating issues that concern the grassroots," Denny said.
The survey, which covered 1,200 respondents in 150 cities and villages, showed that 33.3 percent of respondents believed that the party had not fulfilled its promises, made in last year's election campaigns, while 11.1 percent said that PPP would have no chance of winning the next election in 2009.
The survey also showed that voters were more concerned about issues such as curbing soaring prices of basic necessities, as well as education, unemployment, corruption and better law enforcement.
"The survey showed that PKS could take over the 4th position (in the next election) now held by PPP. The reason is that PKS has been campaigning for clean governance while PPP has not done anything related to grassroots concerns," Denny said, claiming that his institution was known for its high degree of accuracy.
Denny suggested that changes in leadership and other reform measures must be taken by PPP leaders to prevent further decline in the party's popularity.
"In other countries, leaders of losing parties step down just three days after the election. They are aware that they have not performed well," he said.
Irgan Chairul Mahfidz of GMPI said that the national PPP gathering, which is expected to be attended by more than 1,000 participants from 32 provinces, would discuss how to prevent the LSI survey results from becoming reality.
"We don't care what the options are that will be taken by the central board -- whether it is to have an extra-ordinary national meeting or to accelerate the national congress. The bottom line is that the central board must be sensitive to the demands of its constituents," Irgan said.
Reports have previously said that Hamzah and certain other party leaders have opposed the national gathering as it was seen as a move to set in motion a campaign to remove the current leadership.(006)