PKB to Win Third Place in Legislative Elections: Muhaimin

Kediri, E Java (Antara) - General Chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB) Muhamin Iskandar said internal survey showed that his party could win the third place in the upcoming legislative elections on April 9. "It is almost certain that PKB will win the third place. Our survey shows that our position continues to increase and it has now reached 11.6 percent," Muhaimin Iskandar said here on Sunday. He said that PKB had prepared systematic efforts for next steps. The PKB chairman said that his party's internal survey indicated that the position of PKB had continued to increase. Muhaimin said that with the present PKB condition his party was expected to win 15 percent of the votes in the legislative elections next month. He expressed optimism that the target was achievable. After all, PKB once had a golden period when in the 1955 general elections it won 15 percent of the votes. At present, PKB has only 28 seats in the parliament. Therefore, he called on PKB cadres to work hard for achieving the 15 percent target. "If cadres are not able to win 15 percent of the votes, we will be ashamed with our fore leaders. With that figure, it will be easy for PKB to decide its steps ahead, such as in taking a decision whether it should coalesce or pick up its own presidential candidate in the presidential race on July 9, 2014," he added. Currently, a total of 12 national political parties are conducting a 21-day campaign through April 5 for the upcoming legislative elections on April 9, 2014. The national parties include the National Democratic Party (Nasdem), the National Awakening Party (PKB), the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the Indonesian Democratic Party Struggle (PDIP), the Golkar Party (Golkar), and the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra). The line-up also includes the Democratic Party (Demokrat), the National Mandate Party (PAN), the United Development Party (PPP), the People's Conscience Party (Hanura), the Crescent Star Party (PBB) and the Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKPI). (*)