Alfian, Jakarta – Vice President Jusuf Kalla is earning praise for a planned Idul Fitri tour of nine provinces, while observers wonder if the Golkar Party chairman is laying the groundw

Sultani – The Indonesian public's attention of late has been focused on the actions and maneuvering of political figures who want to nominate themselves as presidential candidates for t

Jakarta – In the midst of the current decline in the popularity of national leaders, a potential for the emergence of new leaders is opening up.

Jakarta – Four political parties are set to form a so-called National League ahead of the presidential election in 2009, according to Taufik Kiemas, chief patron of the Indonesian Democ

Jakarta – The latest survey on voter preference for possible presidential candidates has shown that incumbent President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono would be likely to win an election held

Wahyoe Boediwardhana, Malang – Dozens of non-governmental organization activists in Malang, East Java, protested Friday's decision to name Samsul Bahri as one of the seven new members o

Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – Indonesians should prepare themselves for more of the same in 2009 as only familiar faces seem set to compete in the forthcoming presidential elections.

Irawaty Wardany, Jakarta – The House of Representatives on Thursday selected seven candidates for the General Elections Commission (KPU) whose names will be submitted to the President f

Jakarta – A public discussion on the general election bill in Jakarta on Wednesday turned into a heated debate between politicians and a political expert around the most appropriate and

Adisti Sukma Sawitri, Jakarta – Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso announced here Monday he was available for political parties to nominate him for the 2009 presidential election.

Banda Aceh, Aceh – Six local parties have registered in Aceh ahead of the 2009 legislative election in the province, according to the provincial office of the Justice and Human Rights M

Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – The deliberation of the bill on legislative elections at the House of Representatives turned into a tense situation when the special committee assigned to

United Development Party (PPP) chairman Suryadharma Ali and several party elites visited the residence of former president Megawati Soekarnoputri in Central Jakarta on Monday.

Adisti Sukma Sawitri, Jakarta – The campaign season for the Jakarta governor elections may be long over, but political parties are still making efforts to communicate with their constit

Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – An attempt by factions in the House of Representatives to pass a bill forcing all political parties to adopt Pancasila and adherence to the 1945 Constituti

Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – Major factions at the House of Representatives agreed Thursday to set a 30 percent quota for women as party executives in the bill on political parties.

Jakarta – Former Indonesian president Abdurrahman Wahid will fight for his old job in the 2009 elections if asked by Muslim clerics, he told the country's largest Islamic movement Wedne

Jakarta – Golkar Party chairman Jusuf Kalla has rejected the idea of holding a party convention to select a candidate for the 2009 presidential election.

Jakarta – Former vice presidential candidate Salahuddin "Gus Solah" Wahid said Wednesday it would be difficult for former president Megawati Soekarnoputri to win the 2009 presidential e

Jakarta – East Timor's new government will not last beyond two years because of mounting friction among its coalition parties, ex-prime minister Mari Alkatiri said in an interview publi

Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – Former president Megawati Soekarnoputri has accepted a nomination by her Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) to run for the presidential electi

Jakarta – Indonesia's political parties have to do more and talk less to improve their public image, the Reform Institute said.

Jakarta – Secretary General of Timor Leste's Fretilin Party Mari Alkatiri visited the Prosperous and Justice Party (PKS) headquarters Monday in an attempt to foster relationships betwee

Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – In order to face the 2009 legislative elections, minority parties unable to secure at least 3 percent of public support in the parliament should not dissol

Fadli, Batam – The central board of Muhammadiyah, the second largest Muslim organization in Indonesia, warned its members Thursday to avoid active involvement in political parties.

Jakarta – Despite the looming 2009 elections, Golkar turned the age-old script of how to get business backing on its head Wednesday, putting the begging bowl away and instead using a me

Jakarta – Legislators, government officials and political experts continue to clash over whether or not there should be an electoral threshold limiting the establishment of new politica

Slamet Susanto, Yogyakarta – Veteran politician and former Golkar Party chairman Akbar Tandjung will consider running for the 2009 presidential election through a party convention if th

[Andre Vltcheck interviewed Mari Alkatiri on September 13, in the Sultan Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – The state leadership duet of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Jusuf Kalla may end in October 2009 if the Golkar Party maintains its lead in the upcoming genera

Yuli Tri Suwarni, Bandung – The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) has said it is confident of taking 20 percent of the vote in the 2009 general election.

Adisti Sukma Sawitri, Jakarta – Apathy about Jakarta's gubernatorial election kept a significant number of registered voters away from polling booths, surveyors say.

Dili – As a veneer of calm descends on East Timor after Thursday's clashes, the political tension remains high.

Alvin Darlanika Soedarjo, Jakarta – Changing electoral laws to allow non-party candidates to run could lead to a greater voter turnout in regional elections, a political observer said T

Dili – East Timor Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao has offered the disgruntled former ruling party Fretilin several seats in his cabinet, in an apparently conciliatory gesture, a report sai

East Timor's former ruling party has abandoned plans for a court challenge to the legality of the Government sworn in last week, an official said.

Alvin Darlanika Soedarjo, Jakarta – The Constitutional Court's ruling to let independent candidates run in regional elections has gained momentum with prominent citizens expressing thei

Tony Hotland, Jakarta – Analysts have advised the government to issue a regulation in lieu of the law pending the revision of the 2004 law on regional administration to accommodate inde

Tony Hotland and Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – New rules governing independent candidates in regional elections would most likely be engineered in favor of established parties, analysts

Adisti Sukma Sawitri, Jakarta – Observers said political parties backing Fauzi Bowo and Prijanto could not demand much from the duo as they had not contributed to their victory in the J

East Timor's former ruling party chief will sit in parliament with the opposition despite insisting the country's new government is illegitimate and has no right to rule.

Jakarta – Independent candidates are likely to contest regional elections in 14 provinces, regencies and municipalities next year, giving a significant boost to the democracy movement.

Adianto P.

Adisti Sukma Sawitri, Jakarta – Despite widespread perceptions that Wednesday's gubernatorial election was tainted by money politics and voter apathy, some observers say most Jakartans

Lindsay Murdoch, Dili – East Timor is heading into a "people power" uprising, one of the country's most powerful politicians said yesterday, as the independence hero Xanana Gusmao took

Jakarta – Former House speaker Akbar Tandjung said independent candidates should obtain political support from at least three percent of voters before running in a local election.

While many surveys have predicted Fauzi Bowo will come out on top Wednesday, scores of university students would rather Adang Daradjatun led Jakarta for the next five years.

Tony Hotland, Jakarta – The debate on independent candidates and local elections continues, with some party members arguing independent candidates should have to gain at least 15 percen

Only days before polling, support continues to rush in to the campaign of Adang Daradjatun and Dani Anwar.

Mustaqim Adamrah, Jakarta – Saturday's public debate between the two gubernatorial candidates has come in for criticism from observers, who have said the event was a formality rather th