Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s Democratic party would benefit over the longer term from rebuilding its reputation in opposition, rather than pushing to become part of an Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) coalition, a political analyst said on Tuesday.
“It’s better for the Democrats to be in opposition along with the Prosperous Justice Party [PKS],” AS Hakim said. “The party has been in power for 10 years and, if they take being in opposition seriously over the next five years, they could repair their image.”
The President told voters in a speech broadcast over YouTube that he would attempt to discuss an alliance with PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Sukarnoputri.
“Communication is necessary when we are thinking about who will be the next leader of the country,” Yudhoyono said.
Hikam said that Yudhoyono’s comments implied a desire to remain in the game, despite the party shedding support in the April 9 legislative election to around 9 percent.
“The simple logic is that they still want to rule,” Hakim said. “It’s similar with Golkar, which has never been in opposition. If [the Democrats] do not want to be in opposition then that means they have no dignity.”
Maswadi Rauf, professor of social and political sciences at University of Indonesia, said any pleas by the Democrats would likely fall on deaf ears at PDI-P headquarters.
“I think this is the wrong strategy,” he said. “For now, the PDI-P is on top of its game. Megawati will refuse; so, instead of begging, its
better for the Democrats to find their own friends because it would be difficult for Yudhoyono to pin his hopes on the PDI-P.”
Source/Fuente: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/democrats-rebuild-opposition-forget-...
