REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAYAPURA - National Mandate Party (PAN) changes its identity from Islamist Party to open party. Islamist identity did not fit with PAN, Chief of Political Affairs of PAN, Bima Arya, said.

"Since it was formed, PAN has many pluralists and interreligious figures. Under the leadership of Hatta Rajasa, PAN emphasized its identity," Arya said on Monday.

Arya explained that the Christmas celebration in Jayapura proved than PAN had changed into a nationalist party. PAN also hopes that there will be more representatives from Papua in the parliament.

"They are very excited because we are open to every group," he said.

Some analysts predicted that votes for PAN in the upcoming election would be decreased as the votes for Islamic party is declining. Arya denied that prediction as the main reason behind the new strategy towards 2014 general election. PAN achieved only six percent of votes in 2009. He believes that with the new strategy PAN will obtain more than 10 percent of votes.

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