Jakarta (ANTARA) - Strengthening political parties is of the essence for Indonesia to maintain the democratic culture fostered between its government and people, according to Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Bambang Soesatyo.

"The stronger and healthier the condition of political parties, the easier it will be for Indonesia to actualize prosperity and welfare for its people through democracy," he remarked during a public lecture at Borobudur University, Jakarta, on Saturday.

He underscored the need for political parties to take several measures to grow stronger, including enhancing the quality of their cadres, improving operational facilities, and increasing the number of sympathizers evenly in regions.

However, he stressed that such measures will require political parties to incur huge budgets, thereby prompting some cadres of political parties to resort to incorrect means, such as corruption, to collect funds.

"This is the part where capital holders can influence political parties by providing political funds to candidates for party chairman," he stated.

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Under the influence of capital owners, he said, political parties might push for the formulation of regulations that will benefit the businesses of the fund providers.

"The influence can also affect political parties' decision on the candidates for national and regional leaders they will back," he remarked.

Bearing that in mind, Soesatyo emphasized the need for capital owners to have an ideology similar to that held by political parties to maintain the democratic culture in society.

That way, he said, political parties will be able to optimally play their role in serving the people and heeding their aspirations.

He expressed belief that optimally functioning political parties wield the capability of producing national and regional regulations that genuinely side with the people.

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