Competing for power

Democracy is commonly regarded as a peaceful way to competing for power. That is why it is a legitimized way anywhere regardless of any possible manipulated procedure of democracy. As long as its formal process can be conducted and whatever its result, democracy is considered legitimate. Various irregularities and frauds were easily found in the last legislative election. Any complaint was not soon responded so that various irregularities were, once again, put aside. Those who suffered from the election tended to keep silence in dealing with the situation.

In terms of the restlessness, concern, and anger towards the chaotic election system, many are of the opinion that all this was deliberately conducted by certain parties to spark chaos for their own group's interest. Unfortunately, all critics strongly raised were in vain because of a power sharing especially ahead of the presidential election. Various emerging disappointments have been put aside because each party and its leaders have been busy to compete for power. In this competition, they have no longer relied on certain purposeful aims or idealism so that various established alliances have been very awkward.<>

How possible can two political parties which have very different platform and ideology and even are opposed to one another coalesce? Whereas in conducting real political policies in the field, the two will absolutely be opposed to one another. This coalition is not to struggle for idealism. Rather it is aimed at obtaining power. Instead of using the power for ideal interest, it is used to address their pragmatic ambition, namely the accumulation of material wealth.

In such situation, it is very difficult to expect the national political directions in the future to bring hope and change for improving the national system. In the future, Indonesia is really in need of the national consolidation, not only parties or government consolidation, but also social consolidation. The pragmatism of politics seems not to lead to the expected directions. All political options have likely given no clear directions. Rather, the options have kept up with the flow of competition in the field. There has almost been no political directions for the nation. All steps have been taken for short-term interest instead of taking into account of such long-term interests as protecting the state, contributing to the nation and making Indonesian people live in prosperity.

It seems that the expectations to the nation leaders paying more attention to people, the nation's future can not be materialized as all leaders of the political parties have only thought pragmatically and for short-term interests. Whereas, to protect the nation and the state, it is inevitable to think ideally and have long-term strategies. The necessary of political parties in compromising power sharing will harm the nation's interests for long period of time. While many politicians can not avoid themselves from compromising the power sharing. As a result, people have no longer put their trust and hope to them.