Golkar sets criteria for president<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Golkar leaders reviewed criteria for nominating
\ncandidates for the 1998 presidential election, but stopped short
\nof giving any names yesterday.<\/p>\n
The ruling political organization will disclose the name of
\nits presidential candidate come election time in March 1998, said
\nChairman Harmoko.<\/p>\n
\"The Golkar faction in the People's Consultative Assembly
\n(MPR) will announce the candidate's name,\" Harmoko told reporters
\noutside the Golkar leadership meeting at the Gran Melia Hotel,
\nSouth Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The MPR will convene in March 1998 to elect the president and
\nvice president, and to endorse the guidelines of state policy for
\nthe 1998-2003 period.<\/p>\n
\"This meeting is only to discuss the requirements of a
\nnational leader. You won't get anymore than that,\" Harmoko told
\nreporters when pressed to name potential candidates.<\/p>\n
Golkar leaders will disclose criteria at the conclusion of the
\nmeeting on Sunday, which coincides with Golkar's 32nd
\nanniversary.<\/p>\n
Earlier, deputy chairman Abdul Gafur said members had decided
\nnot to discuss names of prospective candidates at the meeting.<\/p>\n
Golkar would not question the origin of candidates, he said,
\nreferring to the never-ending debate about whether the next
\npresident should come from the military, or a civilian.<\/p>\n
\"Any one can become the leader of this country if he or she
\nmeets the criteria, but the candidate must be able to lead the
\ncountry and be loved and accepted by the people,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Achievements count a lot, but Golkar will put more emphasis on
\nthe candidate's character, he said.<\/p>\n
Political observers say current debate about Indonesia's
\nfuture president will be academic if President Soeharto, now 75
\nyears, decides to run for a seventh term.<\/p>\n
So far, the incumbent has not publicly announced his
\nintention. When asked, he has insisted the matter should be
\ndecided by the people.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto has been elected unopposed to the post six
\ntimes since 1968 by the MPR, where Golkar wields a commanding
\nmajority.<\/p>\n
Deputy secretary-general Achmad Moestahid Astari said Golkar
\nwill not discuss candidates for vice president until after it has
\nnamed its presidential candidate.<\/p>\n
Nor will Golkar set a criteria for the job, he said.<\/p>\n
To date the nomination of a vice presidential candidate has
\nbeen done in consultation with the president.<\/p>\n
Secretary-General Ary Mardjono said he was optimistic that
\nGolkar would be returned to the House with a controlling
\nmajority.<\/p>\n
\"Our surveys show we have the nationwide support of 70.25
\npercent of eligible voters,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In 1992, Golkar won 68 percent of vote compared with 72
\npercent five years earlier.<\/p>\n
Ary did not rule out the possibility that Golkar's tally of
\nvotes could decline again next year.<\/p>\n
\"A lot depends on the performance of Golkar's campaign,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Golkar hopes to announce the target percentage of votes at the
\nconclusion of Sunday's meeting, he said.<\/p>\n
Harmoko had previously announced that the bottom line target
\nwould be to equal the 68 percent the group won 1992, and that
\nGolkar would go all out to win with as big margin as possible.<\/p>\n
Harmoko on Wednesday also warned Golkar leaders in the region
\nagainst being over-zealous and setting their targets too high.
\n\"They have to set realistic targets,\" he said. (imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/golkar-sets-criteria-for-president-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}