Golkar's fall, Megawati's rise<\/p>\n
Until recently it was generally assumed that Indonesia's
\nruling Golkar Party would play a major role in the new parliament
\nto emerge from the coming elections.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto may have been deposed, but the powerful
\nparty machine built up under his rule, with its ample funding and
\nnationwide network of branches, seemed bound to give Golkar a
\nstrong advantage in the campaign.<\/p>\n
The past few weeks have shown a different picture. To start
\nwith, there was the party's unpopular decision to nominate the
\nincumbent, Bacharuddin Habibie, as its candidate for the next
\npresidency, perpetuating its image as a mere continuation of the
\nSoeharto regime.<\/p>\n
The public reaction has been shown by the derisory turnout at
\nthe party's campaign activities. Beyond that, the hostility
\ndirected against these rallies has seen Golkar leaders stoned,
\nattacked and forced to flee.<\/p>\n
This suggests that observers may have underestimated the
\npopular hatred directed at those who misruled Indonesia for so
\nlong. With the major opposition forces coming together in a
\ntactical alliance, it also raises the hitherto little-considered
\npossibility that they could crush Golkar in the ballot.<\/p>\n
One beneficiary of this, Megawati Soekarnoputri, daughter of
\nthe late president Sukarno, has not been generally considered as
\na serious contender for the presidency. Even as an opposition
\nleader she has been found lacking. She refused to attend the
\nprotests that toppled Mr. Soeharto or to turn up at the memorial
\nservice for the slain students.<\/p>\n
But as she travels the country, drawing the huge crowds Golkar
\nno longer seems capable of attracting, her accession to power has
\nsuddenly come to look like a real possibility. While the
\npresidential contest will not be held until November, the present
\ncampaign will be crucial to its outcome.<\/p>\n
So, if Ms. Megawati's supporters do emerge in a dominant
\nposition after Monday's polls, her prospects will have to be
\ntaken more seriously, with all that may mean for the future of
\nthis huge and volatile nation.<\/p>\n
-- The South China Morning Post, Hong Kong<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/golkars-fall-megawatis-rise-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }