Habibie's candidacy reaffirmed<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Golkar Party overwhelmingly reaffirmed the
\npresidential nomination of B.J. Habibie, but were at an impasse
\nlate on Tuesday night as to whether to grant the central board,
\nunder party chief Akbar Tandjung, the power to adopt an alternate
\ncandidate if the political situation required.<\/p>\n
Golkar Party deputy chief Agung Laksono said on Tuesday
\nafternoon 25 of the 27 representatives from the party's regional
\nchapters, including East Timor, approved the retainment of
\nHabibie as the party's candidate.<\/p>\n
Agung said the Yogyakarta chapter had been the only one to
\nreject the nomination, while West Java abstained.<\/p>\n
The two-day meeting, also fell into a deadlock on naming a
\nrunning mate for Habibie.<\/p>\n
Some delegates wanted Golkar to keep its options open and
\nstick with its policy of retaining four vice presidential
\ncandidates: former cabinet minister Ginandjar Kartasasmita,
\nIndonesian Military Chief Gen. Wiranto, Yogyakarta Governor Sri
\nSultan Hamengkubuwono X and Akbar Tandjung himself.<\/p>\n
Others wanted it to support one single candidate.<\/p>\n
But well past midnight on Tuesday, the Golkar executive
\nmeeting at the Santika Hotel continued without any clear decision
\non the vice presidency or giving the central board the mandate to
\nchange the policy on the presidential candidate.<\/p>\n
The mandate in effect allows Akbar to drop Habibie as Golkar's
\ncandidate should opposition against him become overwhelming.<\/p>\n
The executive meeting comes just days before Habibie is due to
\npresent his presidential accountability speech to the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR) on Thursday night.<\/p>\n
With mounting opposition against the president and no other
\nparty yet formally supporting his candidacy, Golkar executives
\nare wary that their candidate might fall at the first hurdle.<\/p>\n
Habibie has been dogged by credibility problems as crisis
\nafter crisis has eroded his leadership.<\/p>\n
The Bank Bali scandal, the cessation into investigations of
\ncorruption against former president Soeharto and the East Timor
\nissue are just some of the high profile controversies which have
\ndamaged his presidency.<\/p>\n
Another Golkar deputy chairman, Marzuki Darusman, admitted
\nlate Tuesday that there was a \"standoff\" on these two issues.<\/p>\n
At about 12:30 a.m. the Golkar plenary meeting suspended to
\nhold small consultations to lobby for an end to the impasse.<\/p>\n
Earlier on Tuesday afternoon Marzuki claimed there was a
\n\"general acceptance\" that the party's central board should be
\naccorded a specific power to make a decision if Habibie's
\naccountability speech is rejected.<\/p>\n
\"There is a general acceptance that the central board should
\nbe accorded the possibility of making a decision on this matter
\nat the appropriate time, with regard to the prevailing situation
\nprior to election,\" Marzuki said.<\/p>\n
When pressed further whether this mandate would mean that the
\nparty could drop Habibie's candidacy at the last minute, Marzuki
\nsaid, \"That is not what I'm saying, (but) you might interpret
\nthis statement in many ways\".<\/p>\n
M. Balakum, deputy chairman of the Maluku chapter,
\nacknowledged that there was a fine balance between those who
\nsupported the mandate and those who did not.<\/p>\n
He said most delegates agreed that Golkar should be open to
\nadopt an alternate strategy, however about 60 percent of them
\nopposed giving the central board the sole responsibility for
\ndeciding such an important issue.<\/p>\n
Balakum, who is a member of the Golkar commission on
\norganizational matters and drafting political statements, said
\nthose who supported the mandate argued that it would not be
\nfeasible to hold another executive meeting in such a short time.<\/p>\n
Marzuki Darusman acknowledged that Thursday's presidential
\naccountability speech would be the critical moment.<\/p>\n
\"I think there is a wide awareness among the participants (of
\nthe Golkar Party's executive meeting) that whether or not
\nHabibie's accountability speech is accepted will be the crucial
\nissue of his reelection,\" Marzuki said on Thursday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Agung Laksono said separately on Tuesday that members of the
\nparty's regional chapters would do their utmost to lobby all
\nparties to accept Habibie's accountability speech.<\/p>\n
\"These efforts include lobbying and making power sharing
\noffers with other factions, including the \"axis force\" or the
\nIndonesian Police\/Military faction.<\/p>\n
Agung expressed optimism that the speech would be accepted.
\n(ivy\/byg)<\/p>",
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