Although Indonesian democratic development has progressed, there remain significant challenges. While the executive branch remains popular with the public, the public's perception of the legislative branch is persistently negative. The Regional Representative Council (DPD) has not yet defined its role and some regard the National Legislature (DPR) as ineffective. Corruption and increasing income inequality remain significant public concerns.
Political Situation
The 2001 government transition from Abdurrahman Wahid to Megawati Sukarnoputri initiated a movement towards the consolidation of democracy in Indonesia. Constitutional reform provided for the direct election of the president and vice president and reorganized the legislative branch. The restructuring of the legislative branch created an upper house, the Regional Representative Council (DPD), which along with the lower house (DPR), forms a bicameral legislature known jointly as the new People's Consultative Assembly (MPR). The MPR existed previously but now has reduced authority as a result of the reforms. The legislative and first-ever direct presidential elections held in 2004 were both a challenge and a success, with more than 120 million people participating in the national, provincial, and district elections.
Begun in 2004, many have hailed Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's presidency as a success. He is credited with tackling corruption, implementing necessary but sometimes unpopular economic reforms, and ending one of Indonesia's longest and most violent conflicts in Aceh. The peace accord signed by the Government of Indonesia (GoI) and rebels from the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in 2005 ceased the violence and both sides seem committed to peace. Implementation of the agreement and the law on governance has moved forward and a new governor was elected in December of 2006.
Election Monitoring
Since 2005, the Institute has been assisting local civic groups conduct independent observation of Indonesia's local elections at the district and provincial levels using accurate and contextual methods such as Quick Counts, Voter Attitude Surveys and Voter Registration Audits (VRA). For the 2007 Jakarta gubernatorial elections, NDI assisted local groups to conduct a VRA, a systematic and timely evaluation of the quality of the voters list, and a Quick Count, a statistical sample that accurately and quickly projects election results. NDI is providing training, workshops and technical assistance in these efforts.
Political Party Development
NDI continues to support reform efforts within Indonesia's major political parties. In response to issues parties face - such as training of activists and members, direct election campaigns, policy development, leadership selection, analysis of voter attitudes and political party development and reform - NDI continues to provide comparative global expert advice, information, and skills-building training to party leaders and instructors at national, provincial, and local levels.
Women’s Political Participation
Since its inception, NDI has partnered with the Kaukus Perempuan Politik Indonesia (KPPI) and other organizations of politically minded women to advance the goals of increased women's leadership both inside political parties and in elected public office. NDI provides ongoing technical assistance to KPPI to broaden its membership base, fundraise for women candidates, expand its networks of branches, strengthen its capacity to train candidates, and sharpen its advocacy for structural changes to women's political leadership in Indonesia. NDI awarded KPPI its first Madeleine K. Albright award in May 2005 in recognition of its work to promote structural change for women in politics.
Public Participation in Regional Budgeting
The Institute is working with Indonesian organizations to promote citizen participation in the budget planning, allocation and oversight process of public services, such as health and education that can contribute to the reduction of poverty. The Participatory Budgeting and Expenditure Tracking (PBET) Program provides citizens and local civic groups with a clear understanding of the budgetary cycle; methods for monitoring the quality of public services; and avenues to provide input into the planning and allocation of the budget. The program trains groups in advocacy techniques and strategies that promote poverty reduction policies and it supports public consultation on the budget formulation process.
