Jakarta. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is seen losing his firm grip on the Democratic Party and its members, according to Yuddy Chrisnandi, a politician of the People’s Conscience Party, or Hanura.
Yudhoyono, who serves as Democratic chairman, has often said that the party would remain neutral ahead of the July 9 presidential election. However, some members have decided to express their personal support to Prabowo Subianto.
Prabowo and his vice presidential running mate Hatta Rajasa are running against Joko Widodo and Jusuf Kalla in the July 9 presidential election. Yudhoyono’s second five-year term ends in October.
“SBY has chosen to be neutral, and his members chose to disobey and maneuver in the election,” Yuddy said on Wednesday.
Indo Barometer executive director M. Qodari said that Yudhoyono’s decision not to back any of the running candidates has given freedom for the party’s members and voters to choose based on their own preferences.
“If the Democratic Party remains neutral as SBY has stated, voters will mostly opt for the Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla ticket, about 47.6 percent of them,” he said. The survey also revealed that 36.6 percent of Democrats would choose Prabowo and his vice presidential running mate Hatta Rajasa, while 15.9 percent of voters are still undecided.
Source/Fuente: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/sby-said-losing-grip-partys-neutrali...
