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N. Sumatra key to national election win, say parties
Political parties are inviting their respective chairpersons to join campaign events in Medan, the capital of North Sumatra â indicating the importance of this province with 33 regencies and cities to victory in the April 9 legislative election
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olitical parties are inviting their respective chairpersons to join campaign events in Medan, the capital of North Sumatra ' indicating the importance of this province with 33 regencies and cities to victory in the April 9 legislative election.
'North Sumatra has always been a barometer of national victory. If we win here we will also succeed nationwide,' said Golkar Party North Sumatra advisory board chairman T. Erry Nuradi, concurrently deputy governor of the province.
Erry pointed out that in the 1999 legislative election, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) won North Sumatra and won nationally, as did Golkar in 2004. Five years later, the Democratic Party made the same record in the 2009 elections.
'Golkar should also triumph in North Sumatra and nationally in the 2014 elections. We will seize victory, like we did 10 years ago,' remarked Erry with optimism.
Golkar invited its chairman Aburizal Bakrie to campaign in Merdeka Square, Medan, on March 20.
In his speech, Aburizal stressed that Golkar should emerge as national victor in the 2014 legislative election. He hoped North Sumatra would be one of the regions contributing to the success of Golkar.
'We must win here and nationally. I believe Medan people won't be disloyal. Medan people will remain faithful,' said Aburizal.
Nasdem Party chairman Surya Paloh campaigned in Medan on March 23. In his speech, he emphasized that a Nasdem win in the legislative election would spur changes in the country.
'All residents of North Sumatra should ensure a Nasdem win to ensure a more intensive and advanced development of the region,' said Surya.
The other party figure scheduled to campaign in Medan on March 28 is President Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono, who is also Democratic Party chairman. On the same day, Gerindra Party chief patron Prabowo Subianto will also campaign in Gajah Mada Square, Medan.
Several political parties' chairpersons have also confirmed their presence in Medan for campaigning purposes, including Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) chairman Anis Matta and National Awakening Party (PKB) chairman Muhaimin Iskandar.
Medan Regional Elections Committee chairman Yenni Rambe said the political party reportedly not sending its chairperson to campaign in Medan was the PDI-P.
North Sumatra PDI-P chairman Panda Nababan confirmed that chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri and presidential candidate Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo would not be campaigning in Medan. According to Panda, the absence of both PDI-P figures would not be a problem for North Sumatra because the party was prioritizing eastern Indonesia.
'Everything has been considered. The PDI-P in North Sumatra is quite safe, we're optimistic we can achieve the 27 percent vote target for the legislative election despite the absence of Megawati and Jokowi here,' Panda Nababan told The Jakarta Post on March 24.
Panda was referring to the effect of Jokowi's presidential nomination as being strong enough to boost the PDI-P in North Sumatra. He expressed his confidence in the victory of his party in the province and across the country.
