TY - JOUR
T1 - Indonesia's 2009 election; Populism, dynasties and the consolidation of the party system
AU - Mietzner, M.
N1 - Reporting year: 2009
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - The victory of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s Democratic
Party in the parliamentary elections on 9 April has important
implications for the evolution of the Indonesian party system and its
patterns of electoral competition. Most significantly, Yudhoyono’s
success was only made possible by an extensive cash program for the
poor, suggesting that economic populism may become a constant
feature in future elections. But the significant increase of support for
Yudhoyono and his party have also raised questions about their longterm
prospects in the Indonesian political landscape. Forced to step
aside after his (almost certain) second term ends in 2014, Yudhoyono
will find it difficult to present an immediate successor. His party lacks
credible senior leaders, and his sons will not be able to assume key
political positions for at least another decade. Meanwhile, the
established parties have a good chance of recovering from their loss in
the recent elections, with the new parliamentary threshold likely to
drive former splinter parties back into their folds. This concentration
process in the party system is set to further stabilise Indonesian
democracy, despite ongoing problems in the fields of political
corruption and the quality of electoral management.
AB - The victory of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s Democratic
Party in the parliamentary elections on 9 April has important
implications for the evolution of the Indonesian party system and its
patterns of electoral competition. Most significantly, Yudhoyono’s
success was only made possible by an extensive cash program for the
poor, suggesting that economic populism may become a constant
feature in future elections. But the significant increase of support for
Yudhoyono and his party have also raised questions about their longterm
prospects in the Indonesian political landscape. Forced to step
aside after his (almost certain) second term ends in 2014, Yudhoyono
will find it difficult to present an immediate successor. His party lacks
credible senior leaders, and his sons will not be able to assume key
political positions for at least another decade. Meanwhile, the
established parties have a good chance of recovering from their loss in
the recent elections, with the new parliamentary threshold likely to
drive former splinter parties back into their folds. This concentration
process in the party system is set to further stabilise Indonesian
democracy, despite ongoing problems in the fields of political
corruption and the quality of electoral management.
M3 - Article
JO - Lowy Institute Analysis
JF - Lowy Institute Analysis
IS - 12 May 2009
ER -