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Election candidates expected to fight dirty
Negative campaigning is common practice in elections, and all presidential candidates must be ready to come under fire from rival political parties in the run up to the 2009 polls, a discussion has concluded
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Negative campaigning is common practice in elections, and all presidential candidates must be ready to come under fire from rival political parties in the run up to the 2009 polls, a discussion has concluded.
Effendi Gazali, a political communications expert at the University of Indonesia, told the discussion that in many elections across the globe parties or candidates often launched negative campaigns, using inaccurate data and malicious attacks to beat out their rivals.
As an example, he cited the epic election battle waged by American presidential hopefuls Barack Obama and John McCain, who he said had consistently attacked one another, digging up dirt on previous ties, funding and policies.
"When Dick Cheney suddenly appeared to support McCain, Obama, within seconds, launched a new political advertisement to criticize McCain," Effendi said.
"During the upcoming months, as the elections draw nearer, political advertisements on television could become massive. Everybody should be ready for negative campaigning," he said during a discussion Wednesday on Candidates' Ethical Responsibility for Political Advertisements.
Rizal Mallarangeng, speaking at the same forum and just hours before announcing his decision to withdraw his presidential bid, said he would always be ready to face such negative advertisements.
He said negative campaigning was common practice in U.S. elections, but that he was unsure whether Indonesian presidential candidates were ready to face similar criticism.
Spokesman for the People's Conscience Party (Hanura) Indro Tjahjono said political campaigning should be founded on data.
"We have to use data for every answer we give. Of course, we would not include our failings in published advertisements. Political impressions and marketing image are two different things. They should be differentiated," Indro said.
Greater Indonesian Movement Party (Gerindra) deputy chairman Fadli Zon said that overseas, a campaign that used false data would be subject to a lawsuit, especially if estimates were presented as raw data.
"For example, when we say food reliance, if we only use estimates, how can anyone believe them? There has to be political education, rather than playing with numbers," Fadli said, referring to advertisements made by Rizal and several other parties.
Democratic Party Leader Anas Urbaningrum said his party was ready to face attacks from other political party campaigns.
"Some other parties have begun to counter our advertisements. Each candidate should be prepared if their track records are questioned.
"For us, good advertisements means those backed by adequate and authentic supporting data," Anas said.
All speakers and participants at the discussion agreed that media advertisements -- especially those aired on TV -- were an effective way to boost the image and popularity of presidential candidates.
"These two months are a *honeymoon' period for parties as their candidates are only declaring positives about themselves in an effort to introduce themselves," Effendi said.
"Later, there will be a period of branding and so on. Political contracts will likely be seen in January, when parties will launch their detailed programs to the public."
