Flexibility vital for Golkar: Akbar<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Golkar Party chief Akbar Tandjung told an
\nexecutive party meeting on Monday evening that it must be
\nflexible to cooperate with other political parties in the coming
\ndays to reach \"common goals\".<\/p>\n
\"We have to be flexible because things are now unpredictable.
\nWe need that kind of flexibility to adjust to the highly dynamic
\npolitical situation,\" Akbar said during the opening of the
\nparty's two-day meeting at Santika Hotel, West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Akbar did not elaborate on what he meant by flexibility, and
\nskipped any mention of Golkar's presidential candidate incumbent
\nB.J. Habibie from his formal opening address.<\/p>\n
However, he stressed that political flexibility was crucial as
\nthe party \"did not win the majority of votes in the elections\".<\/p>\n
The meeting was held just days before Habibie presents his
\naccountability speech to the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR)
\non Thursday and the presidential election, which is scheduled for
\nOct. 20.<\/p>\n
Party leaders have said the two-day meeting may evaluate the
\nprospect of Habibie's reelection given his eroding credibility
\ndue to various scandals and high profile issues.<\/p>\n
Golkar deputy chairman Marzuki Darusman already noted on
\nSunday that it may be difficult to retain Habibie as no other
\nparty openly stated its support for the long-time protege of
\nformer president Soeharto.<\/p>\n
He therefore expected that the meeting would mandate the
\ncentral board to finalize its nomination in a way that would
\nreflect the needs of the situation when the election takes place
\non Oct. 20. Analysts predict that a rejection of the
\naccountability speech could spell the end of Habibie's
\npresidential bid.<\/p>\n
Marzuki said on Monday that Golkar was \"anticipating criticism
\nof the accountability report\".<\/p>\n
\"But we will try to seek a consensus between the factions. And
\nif that is impossible then we will probably have to vote on it,\"
\nMarzuki remarked.<\/p>\n
He added that \"it is in the interest of Golkar that Habibie's
\naccountability report is accepted\".<\/p>\n
Marzuki also said that it would be unlikely that the party
\nwould publicly push for the vice presidential seat.<\/p>\n
\"I don't think it's proper for Golkar to nominate a
\npresidential and vice presidential candidate as we don't have the
\nmajority of votes,\" Marzuki said.<\/p>\n
Golkar has pointed to four potential vice-presidential
\ncandidates: Akbar, Indonesian Military chief Gen. Wiranto, former
\nCabinet minister Ginandjar Kartasasmita and Yogyakarta Governor
\nSri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X.<\/p>\n
Party officials have indicated that Habibie personally prefers
\nWiranto as his running mate.<\/p>\n
However, Marzuki said it would be unlikely for the meeting to
\nconfirm Wiranto.<\/p>\n
\"I don't see that happening. I don't see the meeting
\nnominating a single vice president among the four.\"<\/p>\n
Instead he indicated that it would be possible for Golkar to
\nsupport a vice presidential candidate from another political
\nparty.<\/p>\n
Opposition against Habibie's candidacy has steadily grown
\nwithin Golkar, in line with eroding public confidence.<\/p>\n
However, party leaders indicated that it would not be
\npolitically prudent to drop the nomination, while others
\nspeculated on the powers the executive may have on the party.<\/p>\n
Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X diplomatically called on his
\ncolleagues in the meeting to not let \"individuals from outside
\nthe organization\" influence the meeting \"even if that individual
\nwas a Golkar cadre\".<\/p>\n
\"If that still occurs, then it is not a reformed Golkar with a
\nnew paradigm, but rather the same old Golkar of the New Order,\"
\nsaid Sri Sultan.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in Yogyakarta, Golkar chapter deputy chairman
\nKhairudin said that a local cadre meeting agreed to call on the
\nparty's central board to review the nomination.<\/p>\n
Apart from Yogyakarta, the North Sumatra chapter has also
\nindicated its desire to review Habibie's nomination. (byg\/swa)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/flexibility-vital-for-golkar-akbar-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}