Rallies, posters, commercials and smiling politicians have abounded over the past weeks and months. But what do the parties really stand for? This week we analyze those parties with a realistic expectation of a significant vote share and ask what their visions are. We look at two parties each day in list order. Today: PPP and PDI-P

The United Development Party

Though recent surveys have indicated that the popularity of Islamic parties is waning, the United Development Party, or PPP, has argued that local legislative elections have shown otherwise.

Surveys estimate that the PPP's chances of matching its 2004 performance are slim, citing the party's lack of aggressiveness and its relative inaction on current public issues. The party can also no longer claim to be the only party fighting for Islamic interests.

PPP chairman Suryadharma Ali was adamant his party may still win at least 15 percent of the national vote this year, below the 20 percent benchmark allowing parties to nominate presidential candidates. The party appeared resigned to taking a backseat in the upcoming presidential poll.

PPP secretary general Irgan Chairul Mahfiz said since the party was unlikely to be able to field its own presidential candidate, it would instead serve in a supporting role.

"We will provide our support to a presidential candidate after the legislative elections," he said. The PPP has been busy pushing for a "golden triangle" coalition with two of the country's major political parties – Golkar Party and the Indonesian Democracy Party of Struggle, or PDI-P – and its leaders have been saying they may get behind one of those parties' presidential candidates.

Party Facts

• Official List No. 24
• Ideology Islam
• Chairman Suryadarma Ali
• Address Jl. Diponegoro 60, Menteng, Central Jakarta 13010
• Web site www.ppp.or.id/

Vision & Mission

• To work for the advancement of mankind and the achievement of a society that believes in and abides by Allah, to enhance the quality of religious life, to develop a Muslim brotherhood and to prevent the spread of atheism, communism, Marxism, Leninism and secularism
• To work for the respect of fundamental human rights and obligations by taking into consideration the values of religions, particularly Islam
• To work for the attainment of a feeling of security
• To defend and strengthen the unity and cohesion of the nation

Overview

The United Development Party, or PPP, is one of three parties that date back to the Suharto years. Established in January 1973 from the forced fusion of four Islamic political parties, the PPP has been fighting an uphill battle to remain attractive in the face of competition from a host of other Islamic parties that have sprouted up since the fall of Suharto in 1998.

Its main vision is that of a party working to encourage faith and obedience to God, promoting religious life and combatting atheism, communism and secularism. But the party, after standing alone for three decades as the country's only Islamic party, has begun to loose its shine as newer, more aggressive Islamic parties take a harder line on issues of concern to Muslims.

The party's leaders have failed to adapt the party's platform in the post-Suharto era, continuing to lean on an old vision and mission. Its Web site did not provide information on the party's vision, mission or political platform. The party gained 10.7 percent of the national vote in 1999, the first elections after the fall of Suharto. Its performance in the last elections weakened further, as it garnered only 8.16 percent of the national vote. PPP is aiming for 15 percent of the vote in 2009, still not enough to take part in the July 8 presidential election without forming a coalition. Aside from its stagnant image, the party has also suffered from a rift between party leaders Suryadharma Ali and Bachtiar Chamsyah.

Presidential Candidate: Yet to be decided

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle

The PDI-P cannot be separated from its main figure, its chairperson for more than a decade, Megawati Sukarnoputri. The party's recent decision to back her candidacy for the presidential race in July, stressing that her presidential bid was not up for negotiation, has only helped to strengthen the idea that the two were inseparable.

The party relies heavily on voter loyalty to Megawati, a daughter of Indonesia's charismatic founding president, Sukarno. The PDI-P also wins popularity points with its "little people" image that casts the party as the defender of the poor. Polls have indicated chances are good the PDI-P will retain its position as one of the country's top parties this year.

Leaning on Megawati's popularity has its pitfalls. Her failure to with re-election in 2004 was a clear sign of public disenchantment with her government. The party's insistence on pushing Megawati as its sole candidate for the top job and refusal to consider a vice presidential bid has blocked chances to form coalitions with other key parties after the April polls. Still, PDI-P secretary general Pramono Anung remains confident, saying the party hoped to regain the top position it enjoyed in the 1999 elections, the first following the downfall of longtime president Suharto, in which it garnered 34 percent of the vote.

Party Facts

• Official List No. 28
• Ideology Pancasila
• Chairman Megawati Sukarnoputri
• Address Jl. Lenteng Agung 99, South Jakarta
• Web site www.PDI-perjuangan.or.id/

Vision

As stated in the prelude to the 1945 Constitution, building and establishing an independent, sovereign, united, democratic, just, prosperous, civilized and God-abiding Indonesia is a common goal for the people of Indonesia. The attainment of this common aim demands the involvement of the whole nation, individuals or groups, and at the same time is the right and responsibility of the entire population. The PDI-P is meant to be a Pancasila-based political force for the people. PDI-P promotes social justice. The party is also democratic, independent and open.

Mission

The PDI-P is dedicated to defending and achieving the aims of a country based on the Aug. 17, 1945, Constitution, and to implement Pancasila as the nation's overall outlook. Therefore, through political strength, the PDI-P is determined to achieve a nation that is free, independent, united, sovereign, just and prosperous, while maintaining a unified state.

Overview

The PDI-P was launched in February 1999 out of what was initially a splinter of one of the three political parties that were sanctioned under the government of then President Suharto – the Indonesian Democracy Party, or PDI. Banking on the chairmanship of Megawati Sukarnoputri, a daughter of the country's charismatic founding president, Sukarno, and on its status as a political pariah that had been the subject of oppression under Suharto, the PDI-P managed to score the highest number of votes in the 1999 elections, the first to be held after the fall of Suharto. It reaped 33.3 percent of the national vote, garnering 154 seats in the 500-seat House of Representatives.

Despite its strong showing in the legislative elections, the PDI-P, which considers itself to be the party of the wong cilik, Javanese for "little people," or grass roots, failed to secure the presidency for Megawati. She was defeated by the mercurial Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid that year. In 2001, Gus Dur was ousted from the presidency by the People's Consultative Assembly, or MPR, and Megawati, who was serving as his vice president, took over the top post. But her term in office, which ended with elections in 2004, appeared to have disappointed her constituency. The party drew only 18.31 percent of the vote and 109 seats in the House in 2004, making it the second largest party in the legislature after Golkar, Suharto's former political tool.

Presidential Candidate: Megawati Sukarnoputri