The 1987 Election In Indonesia

Abstract

The 1987 general election was the fifth election since Indonesia's independence in 1945, and it was only since the second election in 1971 that general elections have become a tradition in political life. Therefore, general elections are a relatively new thing for the people and in Indonesia's political culture. In the light of this, general election in Indonesia today should be seen primarily as a vehicle for political education. It has not as yet become a major instrument for political change. None the less, its practice over the past years is important for the development of democratic life in Indonesia. Although a general election in Indonesia today does not provide for the opportunity to change or to topple the government as is the case in Western societies, its importance to the government derives from its use to maintain the government's legitimacy. The general election in Indonesia is a parliamentary election; it is aimed at electing representatives who will also become members of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR, or Majelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat), which in turn will determine state policies and elect the president and vice-president for a five-year period. Contestants compete for seats in Parliament or the House of Representatives at the national level (DPR-RI), the province level (DPRD I), and the district level (DPRD II). The contestants in the 1987 election, as in the preceding two elections, were the two political parties, the PPP (Partai Persatuan Pembangunanr or United Development Party) and the PDI (Partai Demokrasi Indonesia, or Indonesian Democratic Party), and the so-called GOLKAR, an acronym for Golongan Karya, meaning Functional Group. In the DPR-RI, 400 of the 500 seats are contested, the remaining 100 seats are given to ABRI, the Indo nesian Armed Forces, whose members are not allowed to vote. Voters do not choose their representatives directly, but they give their vote to one of the three contestants, each with a list of candidates.