The emergence of two new stars

The emergence of two new stars

The legislative election has been conducted nationwide, although with several delays in a number of remote areas due to problems with the delivery of election materials.

However, early tallies in several polling stations have indicated the surprise emergence of two newcomers -- the Democratic Party and the Islam-based Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) -- both posting with significant results.

In certain areas, the two have edged out the two major parties -- the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and the Golkar Party.

On Tuesday morning, the Democratic Party, founded by former coordinating minister for political affairs and security Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who resigned last month, was a close third nationwide with 13.44 percent, ahead of Golkar's 13.33 percent.

These early achievements by the Democratic Party and PKS remind one of PDI-P's achievement in the 1999 general elections, during which it gained a landslide victory in most areas of Indonesia's Java island.

The PKS and Democratic Party are unlikely to win the most votes this year's general election, but they have made a significant breakthrough. This is because they are committed to making changes in this country. -- Media Indonesia, Jakarta