ABSTRACT
This chapter attempts to recreate the politics of the general elections during the Suharto era. It focuses on the reasons behind Golkar’s consistent landslide victories in the elections despite public outcry for changes in the election system and in the political format in general. The chapter aims to uncover the reasons why criticisms of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) and the House of Representatives (DPR) did not diminish despite the fact that after each election the members invariably came to office with better qualifications. It also focuses on finding the answers to these questions through a descriptive analysis of New Order elections. The chapter seeks an understanding of the structure and process of the elections – the position held by the government, the people and the political parties, as well as an understanding of the issues of representation, the balance of power, and the performance of both the MPR and the DPR during the New Order.
