J

span class="inline inline-left">JP/Ricky Yudhistira The Golkar Party projected that in the 2014 general elections it would win back Banten, West Java and Jakarta, which would be the key to national victory in the poll.

Golkar Party chairman Aburizal Bakrie said on Wednesday that the three provinces, now controlled by the Democratic Party, occupy a strategic position with a population of 50 million people, or nearly 22 percent of the country’s total population.

“Without losing respect for other regions, I consider [West Java] as the prestigious one. It will not only become a national barometer, but will also decide if our party will get a national victory in 2014,” said Aburizal during a coordination meeting with Golkar officials from the region.

In the 1999 legislative election, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) scored a major victory in West Java before being overtaken by Golkar in the 2004 election. The Democratic Party won the province in 2009’s election.

“I want to emphasize that ... whoever wins in West Java, will emerge triumphant in the national election,” said Aburizal.

Akbar was also confident that Golkar would also secure a victory in Banten, a province of 10 million population. Golkar won in 2004 but lost to the Democratic Party in 2009.

Ade Komarudin, party coordinator for the region, projected that Golkar would get thirty percent of the votes.

“Based on scientific data, if we can win West Java and Banten, then we are likely to get a national victory,” he said.

Kompas.com

Senior Golkar politician Agun Gunandjar Sudarsa said that under a multi-party system, getting 30 percent of the votes would require a tremendous undertaking.

“We are still optimistic that we can achieve the target as we still have two years before the 2014 election,” he told The Jakarta Post.

Agun cited the survey by the Indonesian Survey Circle (LSI) which found that Golkar Party continued to win support from its constituents after it proposed to improve political participations by re-ordering the electoral system and simplifying the multi-party system with a parliamentary threshold of 5 percent.

Aburizal said that part of its strategy to win back votes in West Java, would be to tour more villages in the province.

“I will sit in a relaxed atmosphere and talk to local people to hear their complaints and grievances. I’ll directly talk to them and find solutions for their daily problems,” he said.