Suwarjono, Jakarta – The results of a survey by the Institute of Research, Education and Information of Social and Economic Affairs (LP3ES), show that the Golkar Party has the largest amount of public support. Behind them are the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the National Mandate Party (PAN), the National Awakening Party (PKB), the Justice Prosperity Party (PKS) and the Democratic Party.
This was explained to journalists by LP3ES researcher, Rahadi T. Wiratama, at the LP3ES offices in Slipi, West Jakarta on Thursday March 25. The survey, titled “Public Perceptions of the 2004 Elections”, was based on research using a random methodology conducted between March 5-18 and involved 1,459 respondents.
Wiratama explained that in the survey showed that support for the Golkar Party was as high as 14 per cent. This was followed by PDIP which obtained 9 per cent and PAN who obtained 4 per cent. Meanwhile PKB, PKS and the Democratic Party obtained 2 per cent and the United Development Party (PPP) only 1 per cent.
What is interesting from the results of the survey is that although the voting for the legislative elections is only a few days away, a majority of respondents (59 per cent) have still not yet decided which party they will choose to vote for on April 5.
Furthermore Wiratama said, with regard to the new political parties which were established after the 1999 general elections, the majority of respondents could not name any one of these parties (as many as 74 per cent). The remainder were able to give one name out of the new political parties, that is they were able to name either the Democratic Party (6 per cent), the National Functional Party of Concern (3 per cent), the Pioneer Party, the Democratic Nationhood Party or the Reform Star Party (2 per cent respectively).
“This data indicates that the legislative elections will be dominated by the large political parties which currently have seats in the DPR [People’s Representative Assembly]. In addition to this, the results of the survey indicate a low figure for Golongan Putih (Golput) [white movement, not to mark the ballot paper] among voters of only 2 per cent”, said Wiratama.
The other interesting finding is on the question of the votes shifting to other parties. PPP and the Golkar Party have suffered a drop in support from their loyalists or supporters in 1999. In a 2003 survey, 43 per cent of PPP supporters were still loyal to the party, while in the 2004 survey this had dropped to 21 per cent. Therefore the shift in votes this year is a great as 28 per cent. Meanwhile support for PAN, PKB and PDI-P remains the same. According to LP3ES’s data, the support for these three parties remains relatively stable. (zal)
[Translated by James Balowski.]
