Opposition alliance a challenge to Golkar<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The newly set up alliance between three top
\nopposition parties poses a direct challenge to the ruling Golkar
\nparty in the coming elections, a Golkar deputy chairman said on
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
"The joint effort has provided a new momentum to block
\nGolkar's effort to obtain a reasonable percentage of votes to win
\nthe upcoming elections," Marzuki Darusman told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Marzuki had earlier voiced disappointment at Golkar's decision
\nto name a single presidential candidate, the incumbent B.J.
\nHabibie, saying the nomination would have a negative effect on
\nGolkar.<\/p>\n
Leading opposition figures Amien Rais of the National Mandate
\nParty (PAN), Abdurrahman Wahid of the National Awakening Party
\n(PKB) and Megawati Soekarnoputri from the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) announced an agreement early
\nTuesday to form a coalition to beat the "status quo force".<\/p>\n
The parties had in the past expressed willingness to form an
\nalliance.<\/p>\n
Marzuki said the move was by no means new but "would certainly
\npose a direct challenge to Golkar". In fact, he said, the new
\nalliance "may hinder support for Golkar".<\/p>\n
It may even cause Golkar supporters to have second thoughts
\nabout the party's campaign for reform, he said.<\/p>\n
Analysts have predicted dim prospects for the ruling party in
\nthe June elections since the fall of its former chief patron
\npresident Soeharto in May last year. They said Golkar's chance
\nbecame even slimmer when the party last week named President B.J.
\nHabibie as its sole presidential candidate.<\/p>\n
Many people have been unhappy with Habibie's inability to
\nprevent rampant violence in the country and his so far fruitless
\ninvestigation into the alleged corruption of Soeharto, who was
\nhis former mentor during 32 years in power.<\/p>\n
Legal experts and proreformists have accused Habibie and
\nAttorney General Andi M. Ghalib of deliberate foot-dragging in
\nthe investigation.<\/p>\n
"The fact that Habibie has been nominated (as sole
\npresidential candidate) has made it easier for the opposition to
\n(portray) Golkar as the status-quo force," Marzuki said.<\/p>\n
Marzuki said the party therefore "will have to be serious in
\nanalyzing and devising a strategy to counter the adverse effect
\nof the coalition".<\/p>\n
He said one strategy would be for the party to avoid
\nemphasizing the personality of the presidential candidate.<\/p>\n
Campaign<\/p>\n
Marzuki however said the alliance appeared to be a tentative
\nagreement and it might split up after the elections.<\/p>\n
"This is a coalition for the campaign... I do not think that
\nit will automatically hold after the elections because they have
\ndiffering political objectives."<\/p>\n
A senior political observer Soedjati Djiwandono however hoped
\nthat the coalition would continue after the elections.<\/p>\n
"As long as they are committed to political reform, I hope
\nthat they will be able to settle their differences," Soedjati
\ntold the Post.<\/p>\n
He also said the coalition was "interesting".<\/p>\n
"Rather than focusing their attention on the nomination of a
\npresidential candidate they are concentrating their efforts on
\nforming a coalition to win a majority in the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR)... because it is the Assembly that
\nwill be decisive in carrying on the reform process."<\/p>\n
The 130 million voters will elect 462 legislators to the House
\nof Representatives (DPR) and choose provincial legislatures.<\/p>\n
The remaining 38 House seats are reserved for the military and
\npolice.<\/p>\n
The DPR, plus 200 appointees from community groups and the
\nprovinces, will meet at the Assembly from August to choose a new
\npresident. The presidential election is slated for November.<\/p>\n
"There is a possibility the three parties would be able to
\nbalance Golkar... what I hope is that other proreform parties
\nwould also participate in this kind of coalition," Soedjati said.<\/p>\n
Earlier in the day, chairman of the National Awakening Party
\nMatori Abdul Djalil said his party welcomed any proreform party
\nto join the coalition.<\/p>\n
He said that so far the three parties had yet to decide
\nwhether they were going to have joint campaigns. (byg\/edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/opposition-alliance-a-challenge-to-golkar-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}