Golkar seeks presidential hopefuls<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
All the provincial chapters of Golkar, former president
\nSoeharto's political vehicle during his 32-year rule, have begun
\ndeliberating the presidential hopefuls they will propose for
\nselection at the convention to be held by the country's second
\nbiggest party.<\/p>\n
Golkar's chapter in Southeast Sulawesi is expected to nominate
\nformer Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. (ret) Wiranto and
\nGolkar leader Marwah Daud Ibrahim at the convention.<\/p>\n
Hino Biohanis, who chairs Golkar's Southeast Sulawesi chapter,
\nsaid on Friday he wanted his party to include Wiranto and Marwah
\non the list of the big five presidential candidates to be picked
\nduring the convention.<\/p>\n
In South Sulawesi, the stronghold of Golkar chairman Akbar
\nTandjung's opponents, the provincial chapter will likely oppose
\nthe nomination of the party's convicted leader as its
\npresidential candidate.<\/p>\n
However, Golkar executives in the province were debating the
\nissue, Antara reported on Friday.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla is
\nexpected to win support for his presidential bid from South
\nSulawesi, his home province.<\/p>\n
Yet the name of Akbar, who is awaiting the outcome of his
\nappeal against a three-year jail sentence for graft, has
\nreportedly been floated as one of Golkar's presidential
\ncandidates for next year.<\/p>\n
The Golkar convention will run from July 11 through July 30,
\n2003.<\/p>\n
Convention chairman Slamet Effendy Yusuf said that even though
\nthe presidential nominations had been officially opened, none of
\nthe Golkar provincial chapters had come up with the names of
\ntheir candidates as they needed time to accommodate the views of
\ndistrict chapters.<\/p>\n
\"Formally, the nominations open today. But, the provincial
\nchapters need time to accommodate input from the district
\nchapters,\" Slamet told The Jakarta Post on Friday.<\/p>\n
Based on the convention's rules, each district chapter can
\nsubmit five presidential nominees to their respective provincial
\nchapters for discussion.<\/p>\n
Each provincial chapter will then bring five candidates to the
\nconvention at the national level.<\/p>\n
Individuals wishing to contest the 2004 direct presidential
\nelection on the Golkar ticket must show documents proving that
\nthey are supported by at least 500 people from five provinces.<\/p>\n
Presidential hopefuls are also allowed to use mass
\norganizations to support their nominations. The organizations
\nhave to announce this support directly to Golkar's registration
\ncommittee.<\/p>\n
Slamet said that the committee was ready to receive any self-
\nnominated candidates for registration on Friday.<\/p>\n
Convention deputy secretary Rully Chairul Azwar said that he
\nhoped that mass organizations, individuals wishing to nominate
\nthemselves and Golkar's provincial chapters would start
\nregistering their nominations next week.<\/p>\n
He confirmed that there had been an individual trying to
\nobtain a registration form, but he had been rejected by the party
\nas he failed to show nomination documents.<\/p>\n
Rully declined to name the person in question.<\/p>\n
Several figures, including respected Muslim scholar Nurcholish
\nMadjid, media tycoon Surya Paloh, Wiranto and the former chief of
\nthe Army's Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad), Lt. Gen. (ret.)
\nPrabowo Subianto -- Soeharto's son-in-law -- have reportedly
\ndecided to take part in the convention.<\/p>\n
But, none of them have registered their presidential
\nnominations with the Golkar team.<\/p>\n
Separately, a close Nurcholish aide, Erry Riyana Harjapamekas,
\nsaid the Muslim scholar would use the three mechanisms to ensure
\nthe success of his nomination at the convention.<\/p>\n
Nurcholish, better known as Cak Nur, would go to the
\nregistration team as an individual and show evidence that he was
\nsupported by at least 500 people from five provinces, Erry added.<\/p>\n
He said Cak Nur would continue his roadshow to Golkar branches
\nin regencies and provinces across the country in a bid to solicit
\nsupport for his nomination.<\/p>\n
Erry claimed that some mass organizations had given their
\nbacking to Cak Nur to contest the presidential election through
\nGolkar.<\/p>\n
However, he declined to name those organizations.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/golkar-seeks-presidential-hopefuls-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }