TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Director of Roy Morgan Indonesia, Ira Soekirman, said that the Democrat Party's electability has plunged due to negative reports about its cadres. Voters for the party were predicted to change their preference to its competitor, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).
"There were many reports about the Democrat Party, mostly were negative. Leaders and members of the party were probed by the Corruption Eradication Commission. These have affected their popularity," she told Tempo on Monday, March 24, 2014.
Ira predicted that Democrat Party's voters may turn their eyes to the PDI-P, the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) and the People's Conscience Party (Hanura).
"But most of the votes will go to the PDI-P because its electability is getting stronger," she said. The party's appeal is its presidential candidate, Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.
"Jokowi has triggered many effects. We can see that PDI-P's electability rises as Jokowi gains popularity," she said. Public sees Jokowi as the figure of the party.
Ira also said that unsuccessful convention of the Democrat Party is also another factor of its deteriorating electability.
Earlier, Roy Morgan published results of a survey on political parties conducted from October 2013 to February 2014. Of the 12 parties being surveyed, the Democrat Party's electability dropped significantly, from 15 to 10 percent.
On the other hand, PDIP's electability was on the rise, from 24 to 29 percent. Gerindra also gained an increase in electability from 13 to 15 percent. Hanura's electability also increased from 5 to 7 percent.
FEBRIANA FIRDAUS
