Reform Star Party eyeing coalition with party of former President Suharto

Source
Java Post – December 10, 2007
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Reform Star Party election campaign rally (Tempo)
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Reform Star Party election campaign rally (Tempo)
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Jakarta – The small political parties in the House of Representatives (DPR) who are unable to pass the electoral threshold of 3 percent are looking for the best way to participate in the 2009 general elections. They are left with only two choices, to form a new party or change their name, or to join with other smaller parties in the DPR in order to get enough seats to pass the threshold.

The latest series of maneuverings at Senayan (the DPR) involves three small parties: the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS) that has 13 seats, the Pioneer Party that has three seats and the Indonesian Democratic Vanguard Party PPDI that has only one seat. With a total of 17 seats they hope to be able to fulfil the 3 percent electoral threshold.

Prior to the emergence of the PDS-Pioneer Party-PPDI combination, there was a failed attempt at a Reform Star Party (PBR) and Vanguard Party formation under the name of the Reform Star Vanguard Party (PPBR).

As soon as this ran aground, the PBR that has 14 seats in the DPR veered sharply and approached the United Democratic Nationhood Party (PPDK), which has four seats in the parliament. According to PBR general chairperson Bursah Zarnubi, they have already prepared an alternative option if the PPDK maneuver fails.

The formation that is currently being worked on a PBR-PKPB-PNI Marhaen coalition. The PKPB or the Concern for the Nation Functional Party has 2 seats while the Marhaenisme Indonesian National Party only has one seat. “But this formation already fulfils the 3 percent electoral threshold right”, explained Zarnubi. (pri/tom/mk)

Notes:

The Concern for the Nation Functional Party (PKPB)is chaired by Raden Hartono, a former Suharto army commander and ex-official of Golkar, the party which backed his regime. He proudly calls himself a Suharto lackey. “With an extraordinary boldness I want to affirm that I am a Suharto lackey”, Hartonotold party followers during a campaign rally in March 2004. On March 14 Hartono admitted toDetik.com that he missed the greatness of the New Order government under Suharto’s leadership addingthat “The establishment of PKPB has also obtained Suharto’s blessing”. Suharto’s eldest daughter Siti “Tutut” Hardiyanti Rukmana was chosen as the PKPB’s presidential candidate in the last elections with Hartono pledging that he would bring the good old days back to the country if she were elected a aspresident.

[Translated by James Balowski.]

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