The Asia-Pacific Journal, Vol.12, Issue 10, No. 2, March 10, 2014. Indonesia’s Elections of 2014: Democratic Consolidation or Reversal? David Adam Stott - See more at: japanfocus.org/-David_Adam-Stott/4087#sthash.bf0Q2DM4.dpuf The Asia-Pacific Journal, Vol.12, Issue 10, No. 2, March 10, 2014. Indonesia’s Elections of 2014: Democratic Consolidation or Reversal? David Adam Stott This year’s elections are a litmus test for Indonesia’s own democratic transition, which could signal either a generational change in government reinforcing democracy or the return of dictatorial or repressive forces to office. Of the confirmed candidates for the presidential elections, the voting public currently faces a stark choice between military protégés of Suharto or oligarchs who made their fortunes under his authoritarian rule. However, according to public opinion polls, the favourite to win the presidency is the current Governor of Jakarta, Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo, a non-establishment figure with a wide popular base. Whilst a Jokowi presidency would represent a clean break from the Suharto era, the party with which he is associated is adamant that it will only select its presidential candidate after the April legislative elections. Nevertheless, his populist and innovative approach to running the largest city in Southeast Asia has raised hopes among the electorate that Jokowi will also be able to reinvigorate the country’s stalled reform drive at the national level. Indeed, Indonesia’s first two direct presidential elections, in 2004 and 2009, were also won on a platform of political reform and clean government by retired general Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who will soon reach the end of his term limit. Pro-poor policies and the prosecution of high-profile corruption cases during his first term contributed heavily to his success in the parliamentary and presidential elections of 2009. For the complete paper, click here japanfocus.org/-David_Adam-Stott/4087 via Ariel Heryanto
Posted on: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 08:58:11 +0000
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