These candidates were bad at calculating the risks involved.

Taco de Vries

This is the risk of money-oriented politics. In this country, many want to become a member of the legislature because of subsidies and salaries, not because they like political life.

John Berkhmans

This situation was predictable.

Muhammad Isa

Our people have become so poor that, on ballot day, they simply watched for agents who were trying hard to bribe people to vote for certain candidates.

It was easy to recognize such agents as they were not members of the neighborhood units (RT) or community units (RW); what is more, you could see them fumbling with Rp 50,000 (US$4.40) or Rp 100,000 bills in their hands '€” only vote buyers do that.

They were outsiders with their hands in their pockets fumbling with some money and the picture of the candidate concerned.

They did really look desperate, because they have to win if they want to continue their corrupt lifestyle.

To hungry stomachs, the picture of money is more attractive than the picture of good, promising candidates.

Embarrassing it might be; but that is the color of my very poor and suffering people.

How can this be improved? Stop corruption, as people simply want to keep their lucrative positions in the legislative offices.

This inaccurate notion about legislative duties has mainly been caused by weak leadership from the top, which has been tolerated ever since.

Moeljono Adikoesoemo
Jakarta

In Indonesian politics, the electorate doesn'€™t matter. What matters is nothing but winning. Once the poor citizen has made his vote, he is ignored and then forgotten.

Do not feed the vanity of these politicians.

Those who have lost will have to get over it.

There should of course be a complete reckoning of how each politician, each party, regardless of results, came by its funding.

Reports of rampant bribery of masses of poorer Indonesians have to be investigated.

Maurice Gold

It'€™s OK with me if they are depressed, especially those who are depressed because they spent all their assets and money buying votes and cheating in the election. I would suggest they set themselves on fire '€” self immolation!

Malam

Where are the people who enter a life of politics with the idea of improving conditions for the people and for the republic?

The current batch seems primarily motivated by the prospect of an easy life and improving the conditions of their own wallets.

Deedee S

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Topic of the day

Child protection

The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) said that there was a '€œstate of emergency'€ last year amid a rising number of cases of violence and sexual abuse targeting children. The media recently reported on alleged sexual abuse that took place at a school in Jakarta. How can we better protect our children at school?

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