Habibie unchallenged in VP election<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Golkar chairman Harmoko bowed out of the vice
\npresidential race yesterday, leaving the coast clear for State
\nMinister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie to press forward
\nunchallenged.<\/p>\n
Harmoko claimed he \"gracefully\" threw in the towel because he,
\namong other things, wanted to concentrate on his duties as the
\nSpeaker of both the House of Representatives and the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR) -- the body in charge of the
\npresidential and vice presidential elections next month.<\/p>\n
\"Golkar will nominate only one of its cadres for the vice
\npresidency, namely Habibie,\" Harmoko told a media briefing,
\nadding that Golkar's chief patron, President Soeharto, has
\ninstructed the organization to follow up the stance with formal
\nprocedures.<\/p>\n
Golkar had previously named both Harmoko and Habibie. Harmoko
\nsaid that he decided to quit during a meeting with the chief
\npatron last week.<\/p>\n
When the press asked whether Golkar's choice would help
\nrestore the country's ailing economy, Harmoko said the nomination
\nhad nothing to do with Indonesia's currency exchange rate or
\ncontrol over the price of the nine basic commodities.<\/p>\n
\"(Naming Habibie as the sole vice presidential candidate) is
\nthe responsibility of Golkar as the country's biggest political
\norganization,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Habibie's lone trip in the race was virtually secured hours
\nlater after the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) joined Golkar
\nand fellow minority United Development Party (PPP) in supporting
\nHabibie yesterday.<\/p>\n
PDI Chairman Soerjadi told a media briefing that his party had
\ndecided to name Habibie -- rather than selecting someone from
\namong its own cadres -- as its sole candidate, after reflecting
\non the tough obstacles that Indonesia will face over the next
\nfive years.<\/p>\n
\"We believe Pak Habibie will be able to cope with various
\nproblems in the future. We would not choose him if we did not
\nbelieve in him\", Soerjadi said, adding that the stance was taken
\nto facilitate a smooth MPR session next month.<\/p>\n
The Moslem-based PPP declared its decision to support Habibie
\non Sunday.<\/p>\n
Soerjadi denied that the minority party was simply mimicking
\nthe other political groupings, saying that it had consulted
\nHabibie and six other potential candidates, including incumbent
\nvice president Try Soetrisno, before reaching its final decision.<\/p>\n
\"We did not choose (Habibie because he is) a Golkar cadre, but
\n(because he is) a figure who deserves the vice presidential post.
\nThe same reasoning applies in our renomination of President
\nSoeharto,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Habibie himself declined to comment on the overwhelming
\nsupport given to him.<\/p>\n
\"I suggest you (journalists) wait until the Assembly's general
\nsession,\" said Habibie after leading a meeting of Golkar's board
\nof patrons. He is the 1998 coordinator of the board.<\/p>\n
Asked for comment, Habibie said he would consider the post a
\nburden because he would then have to help the elected president
\nmeet the people's aspirations and respond to the global
\nchallenges of the next century.<\/p>\n
Separately, the secretary of Golkar's board of patrons, Akbar
\nTanjung, suggested ending all speculation over the next vice
\npresident, given the secure position that Habibie now enjoyed.<\/p>\n
He said there was no doubt that Habibie would now be the sole
\nvice presidential candidate put forward in the General Session of
\nthe People's Consultative Assembly next month.<\/p>\n
He added that the remaining MPR factions -- the regional
\nrepresentatives and the Armed Forces -- would declare their vice
\npresidential candidates in the next few days.<\/p>\n
Akbar Tanjung dismissed speculation that Harmoko withdrew from
\nthe race because President Soeharto ordered him to do so.<\/p>\n
\"No, it (the decision to name Habibie) was reached in an
\n(earlier) meeting of Golkar's big family,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Golkar's big family includes the Armed Forces, and the
\nbureaucrats and mass organizations under Golkar's supervision.<\/p>\n
Akbar again reiterated that Habibie was the man who met all of
\nthe criteria for a vice president established by Golkar's chief
\npatron, Soeharto. (amd\/imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/habibie-unchallenged-in-vp-election-1447893297",
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