Medan, North Sumatra (ANTARA News) - Islam-based political parties did not win many votes in the recent parliamentary election, but will be in demand as major parties had to seek a political coalition to nominate presidential candidates, a political observer said.

The so-called nationalist and secular parties, such as the PDIP, the Golkar, and the Gerindra, need to coalesce with Islam-based parties in the next presidential election, Shohibul Anshor, a political expert from North Sumatra, said here on Friday.

The aim of establishing a coalition with Islam-based parties, such as the United Development Party (PPP), the Justice Prosperous Party (PKS), the National Mandate Party (PAN), the People Awakening Party (PKB), and the Crescent Star Party (PBB), will not just increase the vote percentage but also help project a victory, he said.

Under a coalition, the Islam-based parties might have an opportunity to nominate the vice president, he added.

He also said the Democratic Party (PD) still maintained its position as a strong party.

Although the official results of the legislative elections will be announced by the General Elections Commission (KPU) on May 7 and 9, quick vote counts by various survey institutions had shown that none of the political parties had secured 25 percent of the votes.

By law, a political party was required to win at least 25 percent of the total votes or a minimum of 20 percent of the 560 seats contested in the House of Representatives (DPR) before it can nominate its presidential candidate for the presidential election, which was scheduled to be held on July 9, 2014.

Quick vote count by the Indonesia Survey Institute (LSI) on Wednesdays elections placed the PDIP in the first position, winning 19.77 percent of the votes, followed by the Golkar Party with 14.61 percent, the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) with 11.80 percent and the ruling Democratic Party (PD) in the fourth place with 9.73 percent.

The fifth position was won by the National Awakening Party (PKB) by securing 9.07 percent of the votes, followed by the National Mandate Party (PAN) in the sixth position with 7.47 percent, the United Development Party (PPP) in the seventh place with 7.08 percent, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) in the eighth place with 6.61 percent, the National Democrat Party (Nasdem) with 6.77 percent, the Peoples Conscience Party (Hanura) with 5.26 percent, the Crescent and Star Party (PBB) with 1.36 percent and the Indonesian Prosperous and Unity Party (PKPI) with 0.97 percent.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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