Political Map

Almost in every democratic elections in Indonesia led to surprises and changes in the regional political map. Does the same shock will happen in Election 2009?

In the first election in 1955, many estimates are made by actors and political observers were wrong. Herbert Feith (1955 General Election in Indonesia, 1957) revealed, the characters from the various political currents are equally surprised by the election results. Biggest surprise was the success of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) increasing the number of representatives in parliament from eight to 45 and the acquisition of unexpected Masjumi so small in Central Java and East Java.

In contrast, the PNI and the PKI forces in the region also caused unexpected things. Especially PNI because by winning both the region's nationalist party was able to sit in first place votes and beat the dominant Masyumi in control areas.

In the 1955 elections, Masjumi become the strongest Islamic party, with over 20.9 percent of the vote and won 10 of the 15 electoral districts, including Greater Jakarta, South Sumatra, Central Sumatra, North Sumatra, West Kalimantan, South Sulawesi, and Maluku. However, in Central Java, Masjumi only able to grab a third of the votes obtained by the PNI, and in half of East Java. These conditions led to the hegemony of national control Masyumi not happen.

Forty-four years later, when democratic elections were held again, many of which predict Golkar will be finished along with the collapse of the New Order power. It turned out that this opinion was wrong. Golkar, even still occupy second position in the national vote. Areas that won was still significant enough to re-establish trust. Of 313 districts / cities in the 1999 elections, Golkar still control areas 114 (36.4 percent).

In contrast, the new parties to grow in line with the reform movement was not dominant, both in the number of votes and won territories. Among the 45 new parties of the total 48 parties, only three parties are able to achieve victory on the basis of region, namely the National Awakening Party (PKB), National Mandate Party (PAN), and the Crescent Star Party (PBB). In this election too, the emergence of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) to be phenomenal because it could exceed the margin of votes far enough with its nearest competitor (Golkar Party) and three times the number of votes the third largest party. Any territory under their control dominant, 53 percent or 166 districts / cities.