Opposition Party Executive Expresses Optimism To Win Next Elections

Jakarta, June 7 (Antara) - An opposition party executive has expressed optimism that his party would dominate in the next elections in 2014 and end its role as an opposition party. "Time will come for PDIP (Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle) to stop being an opposition party and we will prove it by being the winner in the 2014 presidential election," Maruar Sirait, the party`s associate chairman for youth and sports affairs, said here on Thursday. He said based on survey results from several institutes PDIP`s electability and public trust in the party had been stable and so PDIP would compete with Golkar Party in the legislative elections. Maruarar said PDIP was grateful that Joko Widodo and Megawati Soekarnoputri continued to have satisfactory rates of electability. This demonstrates public trust in the two PDIP figures and also the party with its opposition to several government policies such as the planned subsidized fuel oil hike. "The public has trusted the party after seeing its ideological leaders and it will affect their political choices. PDIP has enjoyed the fruits from the plants it has grown," he said. Maruarar said after the 2009 general elections his party was offered to join the government coalition but Megawati (the party`s general chairperson) decided to remain outside the government. He said the party had decided to be with the people in whatever conditions. Joko Widodo is the current governor of Jakarta. Based on a recent survey by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Golkar Party`s electability was 13.2 percent while PDIP was 12.7 percent. Gerindra meanwhile followed with 7.3 percent, the ruling Democrat Party 7.1 percent, the National Mandate Party (PAN) 4.0 percent, the Nation Awakening Party (PKB) 3.5 percent, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS)2.7 percent, the United Development Party (PPP) 2.2. the Hanura Party 2.2 percent, the Nasdem 1.3 percent, the PBB 0.4 percent and the PKPI 0.2 percent.