Jakarta – The number of floating voters is tending to increase. This can be seen not just from the decline in participation levels in elections between 1999 and 2009, but the political parties in general would be unable to hold on to their constituents if an election was held today.

Jakarta – The tales of the New Order regime’s successes, which are being used as a selling point for the Golkar Party, are misleading.

Yet another round of political squabbling has broken out within the government’s ruling coalition – this time over Golkar Party politician Nurdin Halid’s leadership of the beleaguered Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) – which is being used as a political football by President Yudhoyono’s Democrat Party to weaken Golkar’s hold over the PSS

Man: A new and luxurious building, which we do indeed need to show that... our nation is rich... our people are affluent and prosperous!

M Hernowo and Anita Yossihara – The Joint Secretariat (Setgab) of political parties supporting the administration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. This was one of the important political “breakthroughs” in 2010, and the controversy surrounding it has continued to this day.

Taxation, Politics, Funny business

Jakarta – It is as though state has no presence any more. Thus was an assessment by Constitutional Court Chief Justice Mahfud MD in depicting the endless cases of violence in this country. Law enforcers, which it would be hoped are the means to resolve social conflicts, instead generate injustice.

Jakarta – Concerns that if the parliamentary threshold is increased it will impact on the number of valid votes that are wasted may be excessive because it will actually reduce the number of valid votes lost.

Jakarta – The widespread use of political image projection, including in the recent elections of regional heads, is further driving up the cost of competing in elections. Political costs are being sapped to pay for survey institute services and political consultants. This is the “big harvest” for political consultants.

Tongue reads Aspiration fund

M Zaid Wahyudi – The growing number of ordinary people’s votes that are needlessly lost is a direct consequence of the application of an increasingly higher parliamentary threshold.

Lia Harahap, Jakarta – Three people wearing masks with pictures of pigs on them brought a clay earthen pitcher. They also waved monopoly money in the air.

Despite the recent rift in the pro-government coalition and the continuing outcry over the Lapindo mudflow disaster, regional elections in Sidoarjo, East Java, have seen the Democrat and Golkar parties joining forces to back candidates from Lapindo Brantas Inc, the company widely blamed for the massive social and ecological disaster that has inu

Suits: Political parties, funny companies, tax mafia

Marsinah was a woman worker who was militant and courageous.

Women are not just housewives. They are not second class citizens.

Suits: Co-ali-tion. Sign: Vested interests

Man: Who said a coalition for the truth?!

Kid: And not for us right Dad?

...Political negotiations? Will it be a win-win solution or just be put on ice like other inquiries?

Man: I’m sure it’s safe now Mr.

Kurniasih Budi, Jakarta – A group of workers who have declared themselves as a voluntary team to support Jusuf Kalla and Wiranto believe that Kalla’s performance has been better than the other presidential candidates.