A survey by the Forum for Information Technology Academicians reveals that Jakarta Governor Joko “Jokowi" Widodo can significantly gain the votes of undecided voters in the upcoming presidential election.
The survey, which was released on Tuesday in Jakarta, also said the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) politician had the potential to gain votes from voters leaning toward other parties.
Hotland Sitorus, the chairman of the Forum, said that if PDIP did not declare Jokowi as its presidential candidate until the legislative elections in April 2014, the number of abstaining voters would likely reach 25.5 percent overall. Meanwhile, if the party announced Jokowi’s candidacy before April, Hotland added, the number of abstentions would likely be only 19.7 percent.
According to Hotland, Jokowi’s candidacy in PDIP could also affect the electability of other political parties. The survey predicted that PDIP’s electability after it announced Jokowi’s candidacy could rise to 34 percent, up from 20.4 percent if the party did not nominate Jokowi.
The survey showed that the electability of other political parties might fall if PDIP nominated Jokowi in the upcoming election, Kompas.com reported on Tuesday.
The Golkar Party’s electability might fall to 14.1 percent from 16.7 percent; the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party to 8.5 percent from 9.6 percent; the Democratic Party to 5 percent from 6.6 percent; the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) to 3.9 percent from 4.1 percent; the People's Conscience Party (Hanura) to 3.5 percent from 4.3 percent; the National Awakening Party (PKB) to 3.3 percent from 3.7 percent; the United Development Party (PPP) to 3.1 percent from 3.6 percent; the National Democrat (NasDem) Party to 2.1 percent from 2.3 percent; the National Mandate Party (PAN) to 1.9 percent from 2.2 percent; and the Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKPI) to 0.3 percent from 0.4 percent.
According to the survey, only the electability of the Crescent Star Party (PBB) will remain the same at 0.6 percent whether PDIP proposed Jokowi as its presidential candidate or not.
“Jokowi’s popularity goes beyond party lines,” Hotland said.
The survey was conducted from Aug. 1-20, 2013 among 2,000 respondents in 34 provinces in Indonesia. (hrl)
