Mega's running mate: Military or Muslim leader<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri will take either a top military
\nor Muslim leader as her running mate in her bid to win her first
\nfull five-year term in the election in July.<\/p>\n
Speaking in front of 2,500 legislative candidates from her
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) here on Tuesday,
\nMegawati said she had been eyeing several figures to be her
\nrunning mate.<\/p>\n
\"She said she had been studying several names who she will
\nchoose as her partner,\" the party's deputy secretary-general
\nPramono Anung Wibowo said.<\/p>\n
The appointed running mate will match the basic criteria of
\nupholding the state ideology Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution,
\nmaintaining pluralism and the unitary state of Indonesia in
\naccordance with the current direction of the party.<\/p>\n
\"The person could be either a former military member or a
\nMuslim leader,\" Pramono said.<\/p>\n
Megawati has been seeking a prominent national figure who
\ncould revive her beleaguered image and boost her chances of
\nwinning.<\/p>\n
In an earlier meeting, PDI-P had considered a Muslim leader to
\ncomplement the party's broad support from grassroots members with
\nits nationalist\/secularist orientation.<\/p>\n
Some party members once hinted that Megawati would maintain
\nthe partnership with chairman of the Muslim-based United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP) Hamzah Haz, the current Vice President.<\/p>\n
With the disclosure of the criteria on Tuesday, the chance
\nremains wide open for PDI-P to also pick Nahdlatul Ulama (NU)
\nchairman Hasyim Muzadi or the current Coordinating Minister for
\nPolitical and Security Affairs Gen. (ret) Susilo Bambang
\nYudhoyono as the party's vice presidential candidate.<\/p>\n
Hasyim leads the largest Muslim organization in the country
\nand is known as a moderate Muslim leader who is accepted by all
\ncommunities in the country. Some other parties have also
\nexpressed interest in naming Hasyim as well as Susilo as their
\npresidential or vice presidential candidate.<\/p>\n
Susilo, however, has been touted as one of Megawati's
\nstrongest challengers in the coming presidential election if he
\nwere to run as president, according to several public surveys.<\/p>\n
The country will hold its first direct presidential election
\non July 5, with the probable run-off on Sept. 20. The election
\nfor legislators will take place on April 5.<\/p>\n
Pramono said that the running mate issue will be further
\ndiscussed among party leaders.<\/p>\n
On the meeting with the legislative candidates, Megawati
\nasserted that unity among the party members could not be
\ncompromised.<\/p>\n
One of the candidates, Irma Hutabarat, who is also a popular
\nTV presenter, said Megawati asked all party members to work
\ntogether to win the elections.<\/p>\n
\"She also emphasized professionalism as the most important
\nrequirement for a legislator, in addition to discipline and a
\ncommitment to Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution,\" Irma said.<\/p>\n
Irma and actress Marissa Haque were among the celebrities
\nrecruited by the party in hopes of gaining more votes.<\/p>\n
The meeting on Tuesday took place at the Navy's Balai Samudra
\nHall in North Jakarta.<\/p>\n
To avoid further chiding from the Election Supervisory
\nCommittee (Panwaslu) over early campaigning, the party refrained
\nfrom raising their flag or other symbols around the hall's
\ncompound.<\/p>\n
The party did however, distribute candy wrapped in custom
\npackaging with the party's symbol and colors.<\/p>",
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