Dicky Christanto, Jakarta – Economists said the current debate presidential hopefuls were partaking in, about the virtues of a "people's economy" versus so-called neoliberalism, was actually pointless and irrelevant.
These economists assured that whoever won the executive seats later on would have no other choice but to implement policies strongly influenced by neoliberalism.
"All of our country's ongoing economic policies are based on the philosophy of liberalism that praises free markets," Revrisond Baswir from the Gadjah Mada University told a seminar about the people's economy held Wednesday. "Thus, it could be said it is neoliberalism that will win the upcoming presidential election."
Therefore, he said, as the current economic situation narrowed the range of options available to policy makers, it was critical to ensure president hopefuls had no hidden agendas that would encourage more neoliberalist policies.
"It is our historical duty, today, to make sure presidential hopefuls do not have hidden neoliberalist agendas," Revrisond said. "If it can be proved they will develop policies supporting liberalism, we should withdraw our political support (for them) and then fight them back."
The heated debate about neoliberalism started when incumbent Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) officially announced he had chosen Boediono – the then central bank governor – as his running mate, at a ceremony held in Bandung on May 15.
Yudhoyono's decision immediately sparked criticisms mainly from his coalition parties that argued Boediono could not be picked as a vice presidential candidate since he was a supporter of neoliberalism. So-called neoliberalist policies are known as economic practices that prioritize the market above state welfare. Therefore within this practice, the less the government takes control over economic activities, the better.
Ichsanuddin Noersy shared the same view as Revrisond, saying the "people's economy" platform currently being promoted by presidential hopefuls was very similar to programs the state was already implementing.
"What has been introduced to us as the 'people's economy' actually still contains elements of liberalism, as several matters such as fuel subsidies might soon be retracted," he said.
Ahmad Daryoko, chairman of the state-owned power firm PT PLN labor union, acknowledged he also doubted whether any of the presidential hopefuls would save state-owned companies once they were elected.
"Looking at the current trend, the will to strengthen state-owned companies appears to still be weak," he said. "I'm quite sure whoever wins the competition would only do less to win our stolen state-owned companies back."