Suwarjono, Jakarta – According to the results of a survey by the Institute of Social and Economic Research, Education and Information (LP3ES), President Megawati Sukarnoputri and [recently retired Coordinating Minister for Politics and Security] Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono have the most support for becoming the next president. Both have the support of 10 per cent of respondents respectively.

These results were presented to journalists by LP3ES researcher, Rahadi T. Wiratama, in a presentation titled: “The Public’s Perception of the 2004 Elections” at the LP3ES offices in Slipi, West Jakarta, on Thursday March 25.

According to Wiratama, his research was conducted using random methodology and direct interviews. A total of 1,459 people were surveyed between March 5-18.

The results of the survey indicate that Megawati and Yudhoyono are considered the [most] appropriate figures to become the next present. In the survey both of them obtained the support of 10 per cent of respondents. Meanwhile, National Mandate Party chairperson Amien Rais obtained 5 per cent and Golkar Party chairperson Akbar Tanjung and former armed forces chief Wiranto 2 per cent respectively. This was followed by figures who only obtained 1 per cent including Vice-President Hamzah Haz, former President Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur), Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra, Prosperous Justice Party chairperson Hidayat Nurwahid, former President Suharto’s eldest daughter Siti “Tutut” Hardiyanti Rukmana, Reform Star Party chairperson K. H. Zaenuddin MZ and Welfare Minister Yusuf Kalla.

What was interesting in the survey is that it provided clear evidence that the majority of people, as many as 60 per cent, were not able to give the name of a figure who they consider suitable to become president. From the level of support for these presidential and vice-presidential candidates, the results of the survey also indicate that the number of votes for Megawati and her party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), were not significantly different.

For example, in a direct presidential election, Megawati would obtain 10 per cent while in the legislative elections, PDI-P would obtain 9 per cent. Meanwhile support for Yudhoyono was 10 per cent while his party, the Democratic Party, was only 2 per cent.

What stands out is that Golkar Party voters obviously do not support the nomination of Akbar Tanjung as a presidential candidate. In the survey, Akbar Tanjung in a presidential election would obtain only 2 per cent while the Golkar Party would obtain 14 per cent.

From these results, tight competition is expected between Megawati and Yudhoyono in the battle for the presidency. This is on the condition that both parties must first fulfill the requirements to advance to the second stage of the election, that is the direct presidential elections. (zal)

[Translated by James Balowski.]