Ever the opportunist, at its national congress on June 16-20 the Islamic based Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS) – known for its anti-US stance – announced it was seeking stronger links with the US to counter its exclusive image and broaden its political base.

Jakarta – The widespread use of political image projection, including in the recent elections of regional heads, is further driving up the cost of competing in elections. Political costs are being sapped to pay for survey institute services and political consultants. This is the “big harvest” for political consultants.

M Zaid Wahyudi – The growing number of ordinary people’s votes that are needlessly lost is a direct consequence of the application of an increasingly higher parliamentary threshold.

Observers say that without the vote pulling appeal if its patron President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono – who is not be eligible to run for the presidency again – the Democrat Party vehicle will find itself in the political doldrums come the 2014 general elections.

Jakarta – Like previous years, 2008 was marked by a variety of actions by students who took to the streets opposing government policies that they believe harm the people.

Only, in concert the approach of the 2009 legislative and presidential elections, so too has the tendency for these student actions to end in clashes and violence.

Umi Kulsum and Ignatius Kristanto – Two months have passed, but like an engine, they have also yet to “warm up”. Yet, their numbers have increased significantly compared with the previous period. What’s going on?

Jakarta – The number of voters represented by the nine political parties that obtained seats in the national House of Representatives (DPR) following the 2009 legislative elections is less that who are not represented.

Didi Syafirdi, Jakarta – Only half a day after being inaugurated as the president and vice president for 2009-2014, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Boediono are being urged to solve five key problems in the first 100 days of the new administration.

Gede Suardana, Denpasar – Demonstrations during the inauguration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Boediono on October 20 also occurred in the resort island of Bali.

Ari Saputra, Jakarta – Around 100 demonstrators succeeded in reaching the road opposite the House of Representatives (DPR) on Tuesday October 20.