Is the Golkar party solid?<\/p>\n
From Media Indonesia<\/p>\n
On Aug. 15, the Golkar Party officially announced its support
\nfor presidential candidate Megawati Soekarnoputri and her running
\nmate Hasyim Muzadi in the Sept. 20 runoff.<\/p>\n
Since the decision was announced, Golkar leaders have ordered
\ntheir local chapters across the country to tell party supporters
\nto abide by the decision.<\/p>\n
As predicted by some analysts, the Golkar party has decided it
\nis preferable to enter into a coalition with the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) than support presidential
\ncandidate Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his running mate Jusuf
\nKalla.<\/p>\n
For the members of the Golkar elite, especially those from the
\nold guard, it is safer to support the PDI-P because, as many
\npeople say, the Susilo-Kalla camp is pro-reform.<\/p>\n
The question now, however, is whether the decision will be
\neffective or not. If we take a look at the first round of the
\npresidential election, many Golkar members felt they were not
\nobliged to abide by the decision of the party convention to
\nnominate Wiranto for the presidency.<\/p>\n
Also, it was clear that many strong Golkar areas in which
\nGolkar won hands down in the April 5 legislative elections,
\nfailed to support the party candidate in the first round of
\npresidential election.<\/p>\n
So, it is quite likely that the decision will split the Golkar
\nparty.<\/p>\n
HANIBAL
\nJakarta<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/is-the-golkar-party-solid-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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