Political Parties Need Popular Legislative Candidates, Observer Says

Jakarta, InfoPublik –Indonesian political parties need to nominate popular legislative candidates who are widely known by their constituency. It is important to help them gain enough vote to penetrate the 4 percent parliamentary treshold.

"Political parties must have legislative candidates that are easily recognized by voters," said  Executive Director of the Association for Elections and Democracy (Perludem) Titi Anggraini in Jakarta, Monday (5/14).

In Titi’s opinion, it will be difficult for Indonesian political parties to achieve the four percent threshold at the countrie’s upcoming democratic party. Therefore, they need appropriate communication strategies to introduce their candidates to the public.

"Four percent is not an easy threshold for political parties," she said.

For the record, Indonesia’s 2009 election saw a 2.5 percent treshold resulting 9 parties out of 38 to be able to send their representatives at the legislation. In 2014, the parliamentary treshold was 3.5 persent, with 10 out of 12 parties passed the treshold. In the 2019 election, the parliamentary threshold is set higher at 4 percent, with 16 participating parties.

Therefore, She continued, political parties should make every effort to make the public become familiar with their candidates. Political parties are  expected to assign  candidates who are able to represent their vision and mission in voicing people’saspirations.

"Election is for the people's interest, and it is about gaining votes through dialogue," she concluded. (Translator: Wilda Stiana)