Gus Dur's support weaker after MPR meeting: Expert<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Support for President Abdurrahman Wahid in the
\nHouse of Representatives will be severely reduced -- to as little
\nas 11 percent of its legislators -- after the meeting of the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly (MPR) next week, a noted political
\nanalyst said on Friday.<\/p>\n
"This is certainly not enough for Abdurrahman to continue his
\nleadership, because no leader can survive in power with such
\nminority support," Andi Malarangeng said during a business
\nluncheon organized by the Indonesia-Australia Business Council at
\nKempinski Hotel.<\/p>\n
The President's support at the House will essentially be
\nreduced to that from his own faction, the National Awakening
\nParty (PKB), said Andi, who is also senior advisor to the
\ncoordinating minister of political affairs.<\/p>\n
While the President will survive the grilling at the MPR
\nmeeting next week, his political position will be highly
\nvulnerable afterwards, he said.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman will have to lobby other major political parties
\nto regain their support, reshuffle his economic team, win back
\npublic trust and eliminate elements of uncertainty about his
\nleadership, Andi said.<\/p>\n
He proposed another meeting involving Abdurrahman, Vice
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri, MPR chairman Amin Rais and
\nHouse of Representative's Speaker Akbar Tandjung.<\/p>\n
The four leaders met in Yogyakarta on Tuesday and pledged to
\nunite to resolve Indonesia's various problems.<\/p>\n
Andi said Abdurrahman could spring a surprise and overcome the
\nproblems, just as he sprang a surprise by winning the
\npresidential election in October.<\/p>\n
He said, however, that Abdurrahman should step down from
\noffice if he felt that he could not resolve them. (01)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gus-durs-support-weaker-after-mpr-meeting-expert-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}