Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – It is less than 17 months before the 2009 general elections. And in this time, Golkar Party has no choice but to consolidate party members nationally in order to realize a 30 percent in the legislative election, a senior party figure said.

Chairman of Golkar's board of patrons, Surya Paloh, said the party would need to focus on their goal and members would need to work together and remember the party was only able to achieve 21 percent of votes in 2004.

"To improve the party's performance by nine percent in 2009, (the party will) need hard work and its political machine must be sped up," Surya told the party's leadership meeting here Friday.

But he said the 30 percent target was unrealistic amid the confidence crisis affecting political parties in general. And Golkar's defeats in several gubernatorial and regental elections in the past three years had impacted the party negatively, he said.

Political parties were also facing a legitimacy crisis, indicated by the huge number of floating votes in the 2004 general and regional elections, Surya said. The unexpected Constitutional Court's verdict to allow independent candidates to contest local elections would also be a factor Golkar had to face.

Surya, who was criticized for arranging a series of meetings between Golkar and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) in Medan and Palembang earlier this year, said, "Golkar should make a self-introspection on why the people have been less interested in political parties".

"You should not think that it is so easy to persuade eligible voters to cast their votes for Golkar in the next general elections," he said.

"Voters are now more educated and know well which parties really fight for their aspirations. All cadres, from the top leader to those at the grassroot level, are challenged to reach the target. Or otherwise the political machine develops trouble and the consolidation will only be on paper," Surya said.

He criticized many provincial, regional and municipal chapters that had made public any internal conflicts among functionaries.

He said he regretted that so many party cadres had moved to other parties before contending the local elections.

Papua Governor Barnabas Suebu and Syahril Yasin Limpo of South Sulawesi, both Golkar cadres, won the gubernatorial election under the auspices of PDI-P.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla, also chairman of Golkar, asked party functionaries to work, rather than talk, to improve the party's performance and the country's social welfare.

"The party was established not only to seek power, but also to educate its cadres, channel its constituents' political aspirations and improve the people's social welfare," Kalla said.

"People will vote for parties not due to their massive banners and best music – but because of their performance. Golkar will be left behind if it fails to show its best," he said.

Chairman of Golkar faction at the House of Representatives Priyo Budisantoso said his party's deliberation of political bills in the parliament was part of its strategy to win the general election.

He said Golkar and PDI-P were set to impose tough legal and administrative requirements against the establishment of new parties. He said these efforts would develop a better system, help to fight for higher electoral and parliamentary thresholds, and help build a simple multiparty system.