Berkarya Party `Sells` New Order for Prabowo, SMRC: Not Salable

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The strategy of the Berkarya (Working) Party that “sells” the Soeharto’s New Order leadership in the campaign ahead of the 2019 Election is deemed not salable.

The Executive Director of Saiful Mujani Research & Consulting (SMRC) Djayadi Hanan gave an example, in the 2014 election Golkar Party also used the same narrative. In fact, a photo of Soeharto with the words “It’s better in my era” circulated everywhere.

With “selling” the New Order narrative, said Jayadi, Golkar did not win. “In short, the new order issue is difficult to sell,” Djayadi Hanan said when contacted by Tempo on Wednesday, November 21.

The party made by Soeharto’s youngest son, Hutomo Mandala Putra, said it would “sell” the romance of the New Order to win the 2019 Election.

The joining of Titiek Soeharto and other Cendana families to the party further strengthened the new order narrative in the Berkarya Party.

Titiek said, Indonesia would be like in the New Order era if Prabowo Subianto and Sandiaga Uno win the 2019 Presidential Election.

“It’s enough. It’s time for Indonesia to return, as when the era of Soeharto’s successful leadership with food self-sufficiency, won international awards and was known to the world,” said Titiek.

According to Djayadi, there is nothing that can be sold by the Berkarya Party from Soeharto and New Order. “What do they want to sell?” he said.

DEWI NURITA