Adianto P. Simamora, Jakarta – The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) won regional elections in most areas last year, beating its long-time rival, the Golkar Party.
Jeirry Sumampow of the People's Voter Education Network (JPRR) said PDI-P won 35.7 percent of 38 elections held in provincial and regional levels last year.
"It is an interesting fact the opposition party wins more in regional elections," Jeirry, national coordinator of the network, told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
He said the Golkar Party, which won more regional elections in 2006, secured second place with 28.5 percent of regional elections last year. The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the National Awakening Party (PKB) tied in third place, with 14.29 percent each. The United Development Party (PPP) won only 7.1 percent.
"This could be a sign for legislative and presidential elections in 2009," Jeirry said.
Chairman of the PDIP-P faction at the House of Representatives Tjahjo Kumolo said the result was proof more people accepted the vision and mission promoted by PDI-P. "The results show more people understand our ideology to maintain the unity of Indonesia and to make the people's welfare a priority," he said.
Candidates nominated by PDI-P in the regional elections promised to use their budget for social welfare and to provide free education and access to health services, Tjahjo said. "However, our target to win the 2009 elections will still depend on the party's internal consolidation and how people understand our vision," Tjahjo said.
In the 2004 legislative election, the Golkar Party finished first, with 21.6 percent of the votes. But its presidential candidates Wiranto and Sholahuddin Wahid did not make it to the second round of the presidential election.
The Golkar Party then supported PDI-P presidential candidates, chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri and Hasyim Muzadi, who lost to Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Jusuf Kalla in the second round of the 2004 presidential election, Indonesia's first ever direct presidential election. The PDI-P has said it would nominate former president Megawati as the party's candidate to run for the presidential election in 2009.
Executive director of political survey firm Indo Barometer Muhammad Qodari said earlier the party's popularity had been increasing since 2004. He said the positive sentiment toward PDI-P was not a result of its performance, but was due to the public's disappointment with the current government.
Several prominent athletes and celebrities including Rano Karno and Dedi "Miing" Gumelar, actresses Rieke Diah Pitaloka and Suti Karno, singer Edo Kondologit, psychic Ferry Purwo and swimmer Richard Sam Bera have joined PDI-P.
Other new members include Indonesian chess player Utut Adianto and Olympic gold medalist shuttler Ricky Subagdja. The new members said they were impressed by Sukarno's thoughts and the party's mission.