Jakarta – Analysts have called recent moves by parties trying to form coalitions based on power sharing as "absurd", saying Indonesia needs political partnerships that strengthen the constitution and will meet people's needs and demands.
Political observers have slammed elite groups and legislative elections winners for negotiating coalitions based exclusively on power distribution without taking into consideration the aspirations of voters and their expectations for the next five years.
Arya Bima Sugiarto from the Paramadina University, former-student activist Nehemia Lawalata and executive director of the National Survey Institute (LSN) Umar S. Bakry said that based on results so far from the legislative election, the majority of people want nationalist parties and young leaders to enforce change and salvage the country from sectarian conflict, poverty and breakaway movements.
"The coalition should be based on political agendas that benefit the majority of people and offer solutions to the major problems affecting the nation during this prolonged (economic) crisis," Arya Bima said at a discussion in Jakarta on Friday.
Nehemia and Umar said voters were bored with the old faces of Yusuf Kalla, Wiranto and Megawati Soekarnoputri, and they would easily be defeated by the incumbent President if they insist on contending the presidential race.
Siti Zuhro from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) said with the Democratic Party's (PD) victory in the legislative election, Yudhoyono would be too strong for Kalla and Megawati unless a coalition was formed.
"The race will be different if the Golkar Party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) or other nationalist parties like Hanura and Gerindra form a major coalition and nominate a pair of young candidates to challenge Yudhoyono," he said.
Yudhoyono is expecting support from a strong coalition including PD, PKS and the National Awakening Party (PKB), which will dominate almost 40 percent of seats in the House of Representatives.
Umar said Yudhoyono would face a difficult battle because of his administration's poor track record.
"More and more people are disappointed with Yudhoyono's red report in all sectors bar security. The government's current programs, including the cash aids and free healthcare for the poor, have not proven effective in alleviating poverty. Also unemployment and his personal performance is far beyond the Middle-Term Development Program."
Mudji Sutrisno, a young intellectual and professor at the Driyarkara Philosophy Institute, called on Megawati to voluntarily step down and play a crucial new role seeking a young party cadre to challenge Yudhoyono.
According to analysts, the pairing of Prabowo and economist Rizal Ramli with political support from the PDI-P, the Great Indonesian Movement Party (Gerindra) and other smaller parties would present a real challenge to SBY, because they share similar political platforms and are fresh figures with political courage, clear concepts and programs offering change for the next five years.