Golkar selects five names for presidency<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Golkar Party's three-day congress ended on
\nWednesday, naming five executives as presidential candidates,
\nwith incumbent President B.J. Habibie receiving the most support.<\/p>\n
Chairman Akbar Tandjung said that following a tough discussion
\nin a plenary session, the congress finally decided on the five
\nnames with the most support.<\/p>\n
They were Habibie, Akbar, Armed Forces (ABRI) Chief Gen.
\nWiranto, Yogyakarta Governor Sultan Hamengkubuwono X and
\nCoordinating Minister for Economy, Finance and Industry Ginandjar
\nKartasasmita.<\/p>\n
South Sulawesi, Maluku and Irian Jaya chapters insisted on
\nhaving only one presidential candidate, while the other provinces
\nsuggested between two to three names.<\/p>\n
Akbar refused to be nominated. "That would be better for me,"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
He also said the congress recommended that a party leadership
\nmeeting be held to decide on one name only.<\/p>\n
The party's central board is to meet on Thursday to set the
\ndate for the leadership meeting, he said.<\/p>\n
Deputy chairman Agung Laksono said the congress required
\npresidential candidates to have experience in administration.<\/p>\n
"Our candidate is required to have experience in
\nadministration, a person who is 'selling' in the election
\ncampaigning," he said.<\/p>\n
Separately, two experts warned on Wednesday that Golkar,
\nmaking use of the great resources at its disposal and the tacit
\nsupport of the military, would win the elections and maintain the
\npolitical status quo in the style of Soeharto's New Order regime,
\nat the expense of democratization.<\/p>\n
Heri Akhmadi and Rizal Ramli from the Institute of Public
\nAffairs told a media conference that one possible alternative was
\nfor potential political parties such as the National Awakening
\nParty (PKB), the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) to establish a
\ngrand coalition before the election and win the support of
\nswinging voters.<\/p>\n
"Without a grand coalition between anti-status quo parties...
\nit would be impossible to beat Golkar," said Heri, the
\ninstitute's executive director. He estimated Golkar could still
\nwin 31 percent of the vote.<\/p>\n
He described how Golkar, for the recent opening of its
\ncongress, was able to mobilize a large number of people "through
\nmoney politics".<\/p>\n
He said the established practice of using coercion and
\n"consensus" with the military would bring support Golkar. The
\nfact that ABRI and regional representatives (who are
\ntraditionally Golkar supporters) will make up 34 percent of the
\n500-seat House will enable Golkar to easily remain in power, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The three parties -- PKB, PAN and PDI Perjuangan -- should
\ncoalesce and campaign so people are not attracted to Golkar, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
"We think that would be the best strategy: beating it at its
\nown game," he said. "This coalition must be established before
\nthe (June 7 elections). Otherwise, it will be too late. Golkar
\nwould already win."<\/p>\n
In its study, the institute described about 60 percent of
\neligible voters as "swinging voters", who could easily give their
\nvotes to any party. The remaining 40 percent were already
\nsupporters of certain parties.<\/p>\n
The undecided voters are conservative people, Rizal said.<\/p>\n
He said the 48 contesting parties were too many, and could
\neasily confuse voters. "People have the tendency to play it safe
\nand choose a familiar, leading and experienced party (namely
\nGolkar)," he speculated. "Nobody wants to ride a losing horse. In
\nreal politics, people are opportunists. That is why a coalition
\nis needed."<\/p>\n
The study estimated that the strong contenders, Golkar
\nexcluded, would be able to gain only an average of 10 percent of
\nthe votes each.<\/p>\n
The prediction of vote distribution was as follows: the United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP) 9 percent, PKB 15 percent, PAN 16
\npercent, PDI Perjuangan 21 percent. Other Islamic parties would
\ntogether get 6 percent of votes and nationalist parties would
\nshare 7 percent.<\/p>\n
"We will be doomed if Golkar wins the election again... The
\nsocial, political and economic costs the people would have to
\nbear would be too expensive," Rizal said.<\/p>\n
A coalition of poll contenders could be promoted through joint
\ncampaigning, a common political platform and through power
\nsharing, Heri noted.<\/p>\n
He cited an occasion when PDI Perjuangan held a rally in
\nSurabaya, and members of PAN and PKB helped secure the event.<\/p>\n
According to Heri, the PAN has middle-class Muslim supporters
\nin urban areas, along with Muhammadiyah grassroots supporters.
\nAnd the PKB main power base are the Nahdlatul Ulama followers,
\nmostly in rural areas.<\/p>\n
The study revealed that both PDI Perjuangan and PKB enjoy
\nstrong support in Java, 24 percent and 21 percent respectively.
\nThe PAN and Golkar enjoy 19 and 42 percent of support
\nrespectively in areas outside of Java.<\/p>\n
They were now competing to win back the support of people who
\nhad during the New Order regime voted for Golkar, he said.<\/p>\n
However, he said the personalities of party leaders may pose a
\nproblem to a united election campaign.<\/p>\n
"Party figures such as Amien Rais, Megawati Soekarnoputri and
\nAbdurrahman Wahid have big egos... because of the press (so they
\nmight refuse a coalition)," Rizal said. (edt)<\/p>",
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