WHAT is happening in the United Development Party (PPP) is a reflection of the poor party system in Indonesia. Continually torn apart by internal conflicts and corruption scandals involving party members all the way up to the leadership, the PPP has become weak because the party elites have been caught up in the pragmatism of power.

The latest incident is the dismissal of PPP General Chair Suharso Monoarfa by a section of the leadership and a nu