T

he Christian community, which makes up less than 10 percent of the total population, has a long history of engaging in politics. In 1955, two Christian political parties took part in the first election: the Indonesian Christian Party (Parkindo) and the Catholic Party. They secured 14 seats in the House of Representatives.

Both were among the 10 political parties that contested the 1971 general election, but they secured less support, with a combined 10 seats in the House. In 1973, the Parkindo and the Catholic Party, merged with the Indonesian National Party (PNI) and two other parties to become the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).

In the reform era, Christian political parties reemerged with three parties contesting the 1999 election: the National Christian Party of Indonesia (Krisna), the Love the Nation Democratic Party (PDKB) and the Catholic Democratic Party (PKD). Of the three only the PDKB got elected to the House with five seats.

The Prosperous Peace Party (PDS) took part in the 2004 election, securing 2.13 percent of the vote, with 13 seats in the House. This could well be the best performance of any Christian party. However, as the PDS failed to pass the 2.5 percent threshold in the 2009 election, no Christian party is eligible to contest this year's election.

' Adnuri Mohamidi