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Parties forge flexible coalitions for regional elections
Jakarta Post - September 21, 2016
Aside from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the government's coalition includes the NasDem, Hanura and Golkar parties. They have united in Jakarta to nominate Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama to run in the gubernatorial election in February next year.
Responding to the "ruling coalition" in Jakarta, the opposition Gerindra Party and Islamic-based Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) have signaled they will forge a coalition, although they have not made an official announcement. Gerindra deputy chairman Fadli Zon said the party would make a decision about the coalition on Wednesday.
Other Islamic-leaning parties – the National Mandate Party (PAN), the United Development Party (PPP) and the National Awakening Party (PKB) – along with the Democratic Party, are also preparing for a coalition as a so-called "third axis".
The coalition-building is a strategy designed to meet the challenges of the upcoming simultaneous regional elections in seven provinces, 76 regencies and 18 municipalities.
Despite the variety of battlegrounds, observers have mostly been paying attention to rivalries in the capital city, in which Ahok is currently the candidate to beat.
Meanwhile, the third axis will probably unite to nominate their own candidate as they have no wish to join the PDI-P-led Jakarta coalition, which they have called their "common enemy".
"From head to toe, it's impossible for PAN to endorse Ahok. We will also announce a surprising pair [of candidates]," PAN party patron Amien Rais said on Tuesday.
As such coalitions have formed in Jakarta, the political bellwether of the country, speculation has arisen that other regions may follow suit.
In Bekasi, West Java, Gerindra and the PKS, along with the Democrats and Hanura have formed a coalition to nominate PKS member Sa'duddin as regent candidate and musician Ahmad Dhani as his running mate. Dhani is endorsed by Gerindra.
Fadli said there was no fixed pattern for the party in nominating candidates in other regions. The party would focus on the quality of the candidate rather than the coalition.
"In other regions, it depends on the figures. All parties tend to be more open to joining coalitions with other parties. Political dynamics in the regions are very local and focus on the personality of the candidates," Fadli said.
To maintain voter support, the party was focused on selecting candidates who were capable and qualified, because in the end, voters would see the candidates, not the parties, Fadli added.
PPP secretary-general Arsul Sani emphasized that in other regions, the party would consider the aspects of political closeness in forming coalitions or nominating candidates.
"There's no particular pattern. In Banten, for example, the PPP has formed a coalition with the PDI-P, also in Bangka Belitung we've joined with the Democratic Party. It depends on the needs of the regions," Arsul said.
For the Jakarta election, Arsul said there was still a possibility that the party might join the Gerindra coalition.
Democratic Party deputy chairman Syarifudin Hasan said the party would stick with the third axis in the Jakarta election.
Along with the nomination of Ahok-Djarot, the PDI-P also announced its support for Rano Karno in the Banten gubernatorial election and Hana Hasanah Fadel Muhammad in Gorontalo.
Candidate registration for the elections will be open from Wednesday to Friday, and the elections will take place in February next year. (adt/win)
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