Parties must open the door for alternative figures to run for president in 2014, according to one observer.

"Indonesia needs new figures who have extra energy, credibility and a broad perspective to help the nation survive a complicated situation," Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) political analyst, Siti Zuhro, said in Jakarta on Thursday.

Siti said that older candidates would not be able to cope with new challenges and that the ideal age for a contender was around 50. "Of course, they should not be over 60 or 70," Siti said as quoted by Antara news agency.

Zuhro said that the public would not vote for parties that did not accommodate the aspirations of the people. Politicians who failed in previous elections should step aside and allow younger candidates a chance to run for the presidency, she said.