Hartono sets pace in race for VP: Analyst<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): With incumbent President Soeharto looking set to
\nstay in power, Minister of Information R. Hartono has the
\ngreatest chance to fill the vice presidential seat, a political
\nanalyst believes.<\/p>\n
Maswadi Rauf, a professor at the University of Indonesia's
\nSchool of Social and Political Sciences, said yesterday that
\nformer Army chief of staff Hartono held two trump cards which
\nmade him the front runner in the race for the country's second
\ntop post: acceptability to various groups and proximity to
\nSoeharto.<\/p>\n
"Although he (Hartono) is not chairman of any political
\norganization, he has gained huge support or at least sympathy.<\/p>\n
"Closeness to President Soeharto and his daughter Siti
\nHardiyanti Rukmana without doubt helps Hartono gain the
\nPresident's confidence," Maswadi said.<\/p>\n
The People's Consultative Assembly has so far received 14
\nnames for the vice presidency from a variety of groups. They
\ninclude Hartono, incumbent Try Sutrisno, House Speaker Harmoko,
\nState Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie and State
\nMinister of National Development Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita.<\/p>\n
Hartono chairs the Assembly's ad hoc committee deliberating
\nthe draft of the 1998\/2003 State Policy Guidelines.<\/p>\n
Maswadi said all the candidates were equal in terms of
\nmanagerial skills, but recent political developments favored
\nHartono.<\/p>\n
According to Maswadi, Soeharto himself paved the way for
\nHartono's march on the vice presidency by admitting him into the
\ncabinet in June last year at Harmoko's expense. Hartono had
\nalmost completed his tenure as the Army's chief of staff when he
\nreceived the ministerial appointment.<\/p>\n
"The cabinet is an appropriate place to groom a vice
\npresident," Maswadi said.<\/p>\n
Three of the previous five vice presidents under the New Order
\nwere former cabinet ministers. Try was the Armed Forces Chief
\nbefore becoming vice president.<\/p>\n
Try<\/p>\n
Maswadi discounted Try's chances, saying that history was not
\non his side.<\/p>\n
"None of the country's previous vice presidents was given a
\nsecond term. I agree with the tradition because it does not allow
\na person to hold the position for too long," said Maswadi.<\/p>\n
He admitted such a convention could not work when it came to
\nthe presidency, but thought that in the future the leader of a
\npolitical organization which wins the general election should
\ntake the top job.<\/p>\n
"The democratic essence of general elections is the ability
\nfor the poll winner's leader to run for the presidency," said
\nMaswadi.<\/p>\n
The 1,000-member Assembly will convene from March 1 to March
\n11 to elect the president and vice president. The presidential
\nelection takes place on March 10, with the vice presidential
\nelection the next day.<\/p>\n
Only the five factions in the Assembly have the authority to
\nnominate presidential and vice presidential candidates. All vice
\npresidential nominations must receive the approval of the newly
\nelected president.<\/p>\n
Many believe the vice presidential post will be more crucial
\nthan ever in the next five years, as the person will have to
\nautomatically assume the top post should the president stand
\ndown. (amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/hartono-sets-pace-in-race-for-vp-analyst-1447893297",
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