Six parties unite for 2004 election

JAKARTA: Six nationalist based political parties have joined forces to boost their chances in the 2004 general election, with the forming of the Indonesian Nationalist Alliance Party (PANI) on Sunday.

The six parties are the Democratic Nationalist Party (PND), the Gotong Royong Conference Party, the Indonesian Democracy Alliance Party, the Murba Party, the Indonesian Labor Party, and the Indonesian People's Party.

PDN chairman Edwin Henawan Sukowowati said that PANI hoped to secure a three percent electoral threshold, one percentage point above the minimum electoral threshold required under the law to participate in subsequent general elections.

He said two other parties, the Indonesian Nationalist Party and the Indonesian National Labour Party (PNBI), were expected to join PANI later. -- Antara