Indonesia chooses to 20,000 members and a President. A candidate for a Law-And-Order politics of Islamic orientation. The other is the President “Jokowi”, was chosen five years ago as a social reformer.
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Tolerance to the test – elections in Indonesia
In Indonesia, everything come together on Wednesday: the presidential election, the parliamentary election, and Regional and local elections. It is a true super choice, which is the 255-million-inhabitants country. And there is a lot at stake. The country is after 21 years of democracy at the crossroads. The role of Islam is becoming stronger, in addition, there is the question of what role Indonesia will play in the rapidly developing Region of Southeast Asia.
According to estimates by the Australian Think-Tanks “Lowy Institute” in these concurrent elections, about 245,000 candidates for election. It comes to a total of around 20,000 seats in the various parliaments and city halls. Six million poll workers will be employed in about 810,000 polling stations – the Lowy Institute speaks of the “most complicated elections in the world”.
In what is probably the most important election of the new President, the roughly 190 million choice, the same choice as before five years of age. Again, the incumbent, Joko Widodo fight, known as “Jokowi”, and the former General Prabowo Subianto each other for the highest office of state. 2014 it was a close election. Jokowi won 53 percent of the vote. He had set to plurality, and his biggest choice is to fight against social injustice, promise. Many in the country – including human rights organisations, however, are of the opinion that he has failed on this project.
Election ballot boxes by boat to a remote village on the island of Sumatra brought
Subianto wants to take advantage of this disappointment. In his campaign he relies, however, on a clear “Law-and-Order orientation”, combined with a conservative-Islamist orientation. He staged himself as a strong man who wants to transform Indonesia into an Asian “tiger state”. If he can score points when Indonesian voters, is unclear. Outside of conservative circles, he is seen very critically here, Jokowi comes in with his moderate style better. Now, when his first term of office comes to an end, you can say: The economy is booming, he struggles against terrorism and drug trafficking, and the infrastructure has been invested a lot.
The Australian publication “Inside Indonesia” referred to the election as a vote for the “lesser of two Evils”. Because, according to the analysts, the two candidates were, by and Large, but very similar.
Ideology and Religion play a big role
Both candidates have sought as a Vice-candidate, someone who the voters on the other side of the spectrum responsive. Jokowis supporters Maruf Amin is counted among the religious Conservatives, and could appeal to traditional groups of voters in the country. Subiantos Vice-candidate Sandiago Uno is an Investor and business man, said to have a good wire in Indonesia, a moderate Muslim middle class. As a former Deputy mayor of Jakarta, he could procure in addition, the Ex-General Subianto voters in urban areas.
Ma’ruf Amin (R.), President Joko Widodo (l.) will bring the voices of conservative Muslims
Although in the largest Muslim country in the world, Church and state are actually separated from each other, is Islam in the election campaign is very important. So Subianto to handle the incumbent Jokowi, for example, that he would be too propagandize secular settings and, therefore, the Muslim principles not respect. “Religion is used as a political tool, especially before elections,” says Analyst Ray Rangkuti of the Indonesian Supervisory authority, “description Madani”.
Institutional Barriers
After years of dictatorship, Indonesia introduced only in 1998 in a democratic System. Due to the presidential system with far-reaching competences of the Executive and the Constitution laid down the state philosophy of balance and national unity (“Pancasila”) Parliament plays a relatively weak role. “Votes are rare and are seen as a sign that you didn’t make it in the Parliament, consensus,” says Kevin Evans from the Australia Indonesia Centre.
The conservative Challenger General Subianto accuses President Jokowi, Islamic values, to the neglect of
Add to that the hurdle for parties to be able to Deputy to the Parliament delegate, was raised to 4.5 percent of the nationwide vote. In 2009, there were 2.5 per cent. Newly founded parties such as the social-democratic and secular-oriented PSI have as good as no chances to get into Parliament.
In spite of the subordinate role of the Parliament, many parties try to send candidates to compete for seats in Parliament. In the parliamentary elections, 16 parties are taking part. 27 had applied for admission. The parties have a function in the preparation of the candidates for President. Because the latter must prove that they have the support of at least 20 percent of the deputies in the current chamber of deputies, or that their parties have won at least 25 percent of the vote in the previous election. Therefore, the outcome of the parliamentary elections is also important for the presidential election in five years.