Hasyim Muzadi's fear of conflict arising from local elections has its merits, but can not be used to stop the democratic process; the number of peaceful elections across the country is far higher than the number with problems.

Most local elections were conducted peacefully this year, including gubernatorial elections in West Java, Central Java, North Sumatra, Bali, West Nusa Tenggara and East Nusa Tenggara as well as regental and municipal elections in Bekasi, Tangerang and Bandung.

In West Java, incumbent governor Danny Setiawan (nominated by The Golkar Party) conceded defeat to Ahmad Heryawan (supported by the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS)) while, in Central Java, candidate Bambang Sadono from Golkar peacefully acknowledged the win of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle's (PDI-P) Bibit Waluyo.

The results of the election indicated a slight conflict between the ideologies of nationalism and Islam. Nationalist parties, represented by PDI-P and Golkar, have won most provincial elections this year. Golkar won in South Sumatra; while Central Java, Bali and South Sulawesi went to the PDI-P. The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), an Islamic party, won in North Sumatra and West Java.

Besides their ideological backgrounds, the popularity of individual candidates contributed their victories. The less popular Ahmad Heryawan, of the PKS, won the West Java gubernatorial election in large part due to the popularity of his running mate, actor Dede Yusuf.

Opposing ideologies do not stop candidates from forming coalitions in order to win local elections. In North Maluku, the PKS worked with Thaib Armayn, a nationalist supported by the Democrat Party.

In local politics there is no such thing as an enduring friend, or arch enemy.

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