Akbar may get more support<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta\/Denpasar<\/p>\n
The Golkar Party's convention to select its sole presidential
\ncandidate begins on Monday, with chairman Akbar Tandjung seen to
\nenjoy an even stronger footing following the resignation of one
\nof his prominent rivals, popular minister Jusuf Kalla.<\/p>\n
The resignation of Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare
\nKalla, leaves Akbar with four rivals -- former Indonesian
\nMilitary commander Gen. (ret) Wiranto, former Army's Strategic
\nReserves Command (Kostrad) chief Lt. Gen. Prabowo Subianto,
\nformer chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce Aburizal
\nBakrie and media baron Surya Paloh.<\/p>\n
Sunday saw a flurry of last minute meetings between contenders
\nand their potential supporters.<\/p>\n
Kalla confirmed his resignation from the convention on Sunday,
\nposing a threat to Golkar's bid for the presidency as the popular
\nSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono of the Democrat Party has named Kalla
\nhis running mate for the July 5 presidential election.<\/p>\n
Akbar denied suggestions of a Golkar strategy with Kalla's
\nresignation. \"That's his political right; it's not intended to
\nboost my chances,\" Akbar said after a meeting with Kalla.<\/p>\n
As Akbar appeared more confident, the convention committee
\nannounced on Sunday that it would concede to demands to change
\nthe election rules. Regional chapters had demanded a two-round
\nelection instead of the initial ruling of contestants having to
\nwin a majority of the 545 votes.<\/p>\n
Under the new rules, if neither candidate won more than 50
\npercent of the votes the two who won the most votes would contest
\nanother, final round, Oetojo Oesman, who chairs the convention
\ncommittee, said. A party source had said the new rules were
\nexpected to give rivals a better chance of defeating Akbar.<\/p>\n
On Sunday Akbar dismissed demands aired last week by Wiranto
\nthat he step down as party leader during the convention, saying
\nit was not stipulated in the rules. Akbar also promised he would
\nnot abuse his power to win votes.<\/p>\n
The votes will be counted on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Like other contenders, Akbar proceeded on Sunday to meet with
\nleaders of Golkar regental branches and provincial chapters,
\nwhich command 421 and 96 votes respectively.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Surya Paloh said that if he were elected
\npresidential candidate in the convention, he might possibly name
\nYogyakarta Governor Sultan Hamengkubuwono X as his running mate.<\/p>\n
Businessman Aburizal invited some 320 representatives from the
\nparty's provincial and regental chapters to spend a weekend at a
\nfive-star hotel in Bali's luxury resort area, Nusa Dua.<\/p>\n
\"It is not an attempt to build a support base for me but to
\nstrengthen our relationship,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Earlier in the day, Gen. (ret) Wiranto held a meeting with
\nAbdurrahman \"Gus Dur\" Wahid, leader of the National Awakening
\nParty (PKB)'s law-making body in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"We simply exchanged information about the latest political
\ndevelopment ... I told Gus Dur about the Golkar Party convention
\nwhile he told me about the situation in the PKB after the recent
\nlegislative election,\" Wiranto said after the meeting.<\/p>\n
PKB once suggested that Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono could be an
\nalternative president in the event that its main candidate, Gus
\nDur, failed to pass the mandatory health tests. Such hopes seemed
\nto have been dashed with Susilo naming Kalla as his running mate.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Gus Dur said Wiranto should continue to run in the
\nGolkar convention. \"That event would be the only one to determine
\nwhether the party upholds democracy or not,\" Adi Massardi, Gus
\nDur's spokesman, told a media conference.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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