Prospect of Islamic Parties Bleak: Observer

Jakarta (Antara) - The prospects for Islamic-based political parties in the 2014 general elections remain bleak, according to a political observer. Ray Rangkuti from "the Lingkar Madani untuk Indonesia" (LIMA) said here on Saturday that the problems for these parties could still be overcome through political communications. "They may enter through coalitions or be ejected from the government. Moreover, several of them are at odds due to ideological differences," he said. Rangkuti noted that the appeal of religious-based parties have long been static, as surveys indicate their receiving only five percent of votes. "I think their supporters are their fixed voters, while there are no voters from outside, and therefore their vote totals never increase," he said. Meanwhile, a political communication expert from Paramadina University, Hendri Satrio, said it was not surprising that religion-based parties would not have much say in the upcoming elections, since these parties have never made breakthroughs and do not have strong leaders. "Their performance was flat when they were in the government. Also, they have only conducted local and exclusive political communications within their bases," he said. In response to these views, the deputy general chairman of the United Development Party (PPP), Emron Pangkapi, said that the 2014 legislative elections have not yet occurred, so it is still too early to predict their results. "In reality PPP has always existed and could play a role in the government," he said. Emron said since 1955, Islamic parties have never been absent from the government. Yet, as a total, the votes received by Islamic parties have declined, as compared to that of nationalist parties. (*) reporting by syaiful hakim