JAKARTA POST,
31 Juli 2013
|
The Democratic Party will hold a
primary to vet candidates for the 2014 presidential election. Executives say
the primary will be open to people from outside the party, but on an
invitation-only basis.
The Democrats’ seriousness in holding a primary is becoming increasingly evident as the party is soon to formalize the primary committee. The party’s primary is attracting prominent figures from within and outside the party to join the fray.
Among those mentioned as potential candidates are popular but unaffiliated public figures like Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan and Regional Representatives Council (DPD) Speaker Irman Gusman. House of Representatives Speaker Marzuki Alie and former Army chief Pramono Edhie Wibowo have also expressed interest from within the party’s ranks.
The primary is also apparently attracting entrepreneurs and business leaders, such as Lion Air president director Rusdi Kirana. His participation would certainly lend a distinctive color to the primary, indicating that it is not confined to certain elites grappling with day-to-day politics.
Such a seemingly democratic political tradition is expected to deconstruct the Democrats’ old face of stressing upon symbolic legitimacy, with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono being the central figure. For that purpose, the Democratic Party should not use the primary as a strategy to boost the graft-stricken Democrats’ sagging popularity with the infusion of new members. It instead has turned out to be the party’s solution to public aspirations by maintaining the party’s role as an institution of political recruitment.
Despite strong criticism over the Democratic Party’s political scandals, people have high expectations that primary might introduce an elegant political tradition. The primary has a lot of advantages. For example, the candidates exposed to voting would have been through credible grassroots selection. Also, through the convention, the public can assess candidates in relation to competence, capability and integrity. Yet the primary requires a transparent process with a view to establishing a fair race among party members and non-party figures.
The committee members should dismiss any attempts to influence so as to ensure a legitimate primary. This would include ignoring any tricks to endorse a particular candidate, which would be undemocratic. Furthermore, vote-buying should not be practiced at the primary so as to avoid the possibility of having a leader who worships money.
It is imperative that the Democratic Party’s primary is free from nepotism and cronyism. With many hailing Pramono — the younger brother of First Lady Ani Yudhoyono — as the obvious choice to replace Yudhoyono in the 2014 election, the party’s primary is under threat.
Although many say that Pramono has no chance of winning the election, putting Yudhoyono’s family in the race would strengthen the party’s symbolic legitimacy.
The legitimacy of the primary is closely bound to a commitment to preserve civilian supremacy for the next presidential or vice presidential post, while it is questionable whether Pramono can shift from a military-style leadership to that of a civilian one. Endorsing Pramono would mean that the Democratic Party’s politicians prefer his past leadership in the Army over his leadership abilities in overcoming the big problems that the country currently faces. With Pramono’s track record in the Army being mediocre at best, he could not be expected to make an easy transition to the role of a civilian leader.
The Democratic Party’s primary will be productive and promising as it will appeal to young and first-time voters, who this year are expected to account for just over 50 percent of voters.
On this score, there will be a bigger chance of the Democrats backing minister Gita, whom is said have Yudhoyono’s tacit approval to run in the primary. Yet Gita’s chances depend on his popularity and what the public wants. Many fear that Indonesia’s economy would be pro-Washington and more liberal if he were chosen as the country’s next president.
The primary will bring a further breakthrough when it seriously paves the way for more women to participate. Its committee needs to seriously invite the most talked-about figures, such as former finance minister-turned World Bank managing director Sri Mulyani, who has long been touted as a potential candidate for the 2014 election. The primary must be tangible proof that the Democrats believe in the capability of women politicians whom would provide interesting dynamics ahead of the elections. The Democratic Party’s electability would surely increase were Mulyani to win the primary.
Presenting an opportunity for women candidates is necessary since 2014 election candidates will likely have to deal with voter apathy. This is particularly true as the majority of women legislators are newcomers who lack a firm ground in politics, a strong track record working on issues of female empowerment and experience with women’s organizations and movements.
Therefore, the Democratic Party’s presidential primary race will led to better institutionalization, recruitment and overall function in part for the low capacity of women legislators and politicians. ●
The Democrats’ seriousness in holding a primary is becoming increasingly evident as the party is soon to formalize the primary committee. The party’s primary is attracting prominent figures from within and outside the party to join the fray.
Among those mentioned as potential candidates are popular but unaffiliated public figures like Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan and Regional Representatives Council (DPD) Speaker Irman Gusman. House of Representatives Speaker Marzuki Alie and former Army chief Pramono Edhie Wibowo have also expressed interest from within the party’s ranks.
The primary is also apparently attracting entrepreneurs and business leaders, such as Lion Air president director Rusdi Kirana. His participation would certainly lend a distinctive color to the primary, indicating that it is not confined to certain elites grappling with day-to-day politics.
Such a seemingly democratic political tradition is expected to deconstruct the Democrats’ old face of stressing upon symbolic legitimacy, with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono being the central figure. For that purpose, the Democratic Party should not use the primary as a strategy to boost the graft-stricken Democrats’ sagging popularity with the infusion of new members. It instead has turned out to be the party’s solution to public aspirations by maintaining the party’s role as an institution of political recruitment.
Despite strong criticism over the Democratic Party’s political scandals, people have high expectations that primary might introduce an elegant political tradition. The primary has a lot of advantages. For example, the candidates exposed to voting would have been through credible grassroots selection. Also, through the convention, the public can assess candidates in relation to competence, capability and integrity. Yet the primary requires a transparent process with a view to establishing a fair race among party members and non-party figures.
The committee members should dismiss any attempts to influence so as to ensure a legitimate primary. This would include ignoring any tricks to endorse a particular candidate, which would be undemocratic. Furthermore, vote-buying should not be practiced at the primary so as to avoid the possibility of having a leader who worships money.
It is imperative that the Democratic Party’s primary is free from nepotism and cronyism. With many hailing Pramono — the younger brother of First Lady Ani Yudhoyono — as the obvious choice to replace Yudhoyono in the 2014 election, the party’s primary is under threat.
Although many say that Pramono has no chance of winning the election, putting Yudhoyono’s family in the race would strengthen the party’s symbolic legitimacy.
The legitimacy of the primary is closely bound to a commitment to preserve civilian supremacy for the next presidential or vice presidential post, while it is questionable whether Pramono can shift from a military-style leadership to that of a civilian one. Endorsing Pramono would mean that the Democratic Party’s politicians prefer his past leadership in the Army over his leadership abilities in overcoming the big problems that the country currently faces. With Pramono’s track record in the Army being mediocre at best, he could not be expected to make an easy transition to the role of a civilian leader.
The Democratic Party’s primary will be productive and promising as it will appeal to young and first-time voters, who this year are expected to account for just over 50 percent of voters.
On this score, there will be a bigger chance of the Democrats backing minister Gita, whom is said have Yudhoyono’s tacit approval to run in the primary. Yet Gita’s chances depend on his popularity and what the public wants. Many fear that Indonesia’s economy would be pro-Washington and more liberal if he were chosen as the country’s next president.
The primary will bring a further breakthrough when it seriously paves the way for more women to participate. Its committee needs to seriously invite the most talked-about figures, such as former finance minister-turned World Bank managing director Sri Mulyani, who has long been touted as a potential candidate for the 2014 election. The primary must be tangible proof that the Democrats believe in the capability of women politicians whom would provide interesting dynamics ahead of the elections. The Democratic Party’s electability would surely increase were Mulyani to win the primary.
Presenting an opportunity for women candidates is necessary since 2014 election candidates will likely have to deal with voter apathy. This is particularly true as the majority of women legislators are newcomers who lack a firm ground in politics, a strong track record working on issues of female empowerment and experience with women’s organizations and movements.
Therefore, the Democratic Party’s presidential primary race will led to better institutionalization, recruitment and overall function in part for the low capacity of women legislators and politicians. ●
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