Do Candidates' Numbers Mean Something to Voters?

A political observer said here on Saturday the sequence numbers of presidential candidates would have no effect on voters. "The sequence number will not affect the election results. For example number one. So far there has been no political party or presidential candidate bearing the number that won an election ," Bima Arya Sugianto said.

"In the legislative elections recently the Hanura Party that had one as its sequence number only garnered four percent of votes while in the last presidential election in 2004 the ticket bearing number one did not win," he said defending his argument. He said all candidates would certainly claim that their number was good and would help to make voters to choose them.

The General Elections Commission (KPU) on Saturday drew the sequence numbers for the presidential candidates to compete in the election in July.
Megawati Soekarnoputri who pairs up with Prabowo Subianto drew the number one while Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono with Boediono as his running mate the number two and Jusuf Kalla who pairs up with Wiranto the number three.

"After the sequence numbers were determined it is now time to see what the candidates will do," he said. Bima said so far Jusuf Kalla and Wiranto had been more aggressive in seeking support compared with other candidates.

"They have made various breakthroughs, including visits to Islamic boarding schools," he said. Regarding Megawati and Prabowo, Bima who is a lecturer at Paramadina University said that they had so far merely clung to their jargon. They had not made breakthroughs impressing as if they stayed idle like what Megawati did during the presidential election in 2004.

About Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Boediono he said they remained in an advantageous position and therefore their chance to win was greater than the others. "SBY’s (Susilo Bambang Yudhoyno) popularity is still high. In just two months it is obviously difficult for the other candidates to catch him up," he said.

Source: Kompas, Sunday, 31 May 2009

Megawati is ready to be 2009 president candidate

Megawati is ready to be the president candidate for 2009 election

The General Chairman of DPP Partai Demokrasi Indonesia Perjuangan Megawati Soekarnoputri already said that she is ready to be the Indonesian President Candidate for 2009 general election. She said that statement in the closing ceremony of Rakornas (National Coordination Meeting) of PDI Perjuangan in Jakarta on last 10th September 2007.

"By saying Bismilahiramanirahim, I receive the proposal that elected me as the Indonesian President candidate from PDI Perjuangan Party," said Megawati that answer by applause, cheering, and singing of "Maju Tak Gentar" song by about 16 thousand meeting attendances.

Megawati drops her tear when she stress once again that she is ready to be chosen as Indonesian president candidate. "I repeat it once again, as the general chairman of PDI Perjuangan, I except to be officially chosen as Indonesian president candidate," she said at the closing ceremony speech on Rakornas PDI Perjuangan.

After she said her willingness, Megawati asks to all cadre of PDI Perjuangan to work hard in order to win the president election in 2009. Megawati said, the win of PDI Perjuangan in 2009 is the win of the people of Indonesia that should become the responsible of all PDI Perjuangan’s cadre in Indonesia.

The general secretary of PDI Perjuangan Pramono Anung said, that PDI Perjuangan will review who will choose as the vice president candidate to accompany Megawati at president election in 2009, the result will be discussed at Rakernas PDI Perjuangan III in March 2008.