IRI Releases Survey of Indonesia Public Opinion

Jakarta, Indonesia – IRI today released its survey of Indonesian public opinion.  The poll was conducted May 16-June 1, 2008, by Polling Center based in Indonesia. Oversight and analysis was provided by James Fisfis of Chariot Research, San Francisco, USA.

On August 13, IRI presented the survey findings to leaders from all 34 national political parties contesting in the upcoming 2009 legislative elections, as well as government election officials and representatives from nongovernmental organizations supporting Indonesia’s electoral process.

Key findings in the public opinion poll included:

• Nearly 80 percent of those surveyed indicated they would be more likely to vote for a political party that nominated women and young people as legislative candidates;
• A majority of voters would support political party reform initiatives, such as public disclosure of party finances;
• Sixty percent of respondents did not check to see if their names were on the 2004 voters’ list; and
• More than half of those surveyed were dissatisfied with the performance of the current national and local legislatures.

IRI has conducted surveys in Indonesia since 2003. The goal of the program is to gauge public opinion and to use this information in IRI’s work with Indonesia’s political parties.

IRI’s national polls are intended to assess national trends and the mood of the electorate regarding important issues such as: the approval of national government policies, political pluralism, women and youth participation, potential for electoral related violence, citizen engagement in the political process, and perceptions of corruption.

A nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, IRI advances freedom and democracy worldwide by developing political parties, civic institutions, open elections, good governance and the rule of law.