Democratic Party is Doomed in 2014 Elections: Surveys

Jakarta (Antara) - Surveys showed that the ruling Democratic Party would suffer a crushing defeat in forthcoming elections. The party , however, said the results of the surveys could not be used as a reference in gauging the electability of political parties facing the legislative election in Apri. The party doubts that the survey firms were entirely independent, party spokesman Ikhsan Modjo said here on Monday. "The survey agencies serves more as a mouthpiece of political investors that have financed their operation," Ikhsan said. He cited the Lingkaran Survei Indonesia (LSI) gave a more or less the same prediction in the previous election in 2009 but the fact showed the prediction was entirely wrong as the party led strongly with 20.85 percent of the votes. Based on the latest surveys by LSI on electability of political parties ahead of the legislative election, the ruling party fell back,lagging far behind leaders, Golkar and PDIP Perjuangan. The ruling party with only 4.7 percent of the votes even fell behind minority party Gerindra. The party has suffered badly after a number of its leaders were involved in corruption or graft cases. Former sports minister Andi Mallarangeng and its former general chairman Anas Urbaningrum were arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on charges of receiving kickbaks. Former party leader and lawmaker Anglian Sondakh and former party treasurer and lawmaker M. Nazaruddin are now serving jail terms for corruption. (*)