Parties told to seek new figures<\/p>\n
Muhammad Nafik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Senior legislators have joined calls for political parties to
\nfield new figures as presidential candidates in the up-coming
\ngeneral election in order to cope with the nation's prolonged
\nleadership crisis.<\/p>\n
\"Political parties would be astute and have better prospects
\nif they heeded public aspirations by not closing off chances for
\nnew figures with high moral authority as their presidential
\ncandidates,\" Faisal Baasir, a senior lawmaker from the United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP), told The Jakarta Post on Monday.<\/p>\n
\"But so far I don't see any figure eligible to take over the
\nnational leadership in the future,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Many believe that the next president would come from within
\nthe circle of the current political elite as individual
\ncandidates are banned under the current system from contesting in
\nthe first-ever direct presidential elections in 2004.<\/p>\n
Recent surveys showed that most Indonesians were \"longing for\"
\nnew national leaders from outside the major parties, claiming the
\ncurrent political elite were unfit to retain power after the 2004
\nelection.<\/p>\n
Marwah Daud Ibrahim, a deputy chairperson of the Golkar Party
\n-- the second largest faction in the House of Representatives,
\nshared a similar view, saying the current power holders should
\nnot retain their positions after the 2004 election.<\/p>\n
She supported the findings of two recent surveys by non-
\ngovernmental organizations that most Indonesians could not
\nidentify a figure suitable to become the next president.<\/p>\n
The surveys -- one conducted by the Institute for Social and
\nEconomic Research, Education and Information (LP3ES), and the
\nother by the Center for Political Studies (CPS) -- also indicated
\na similar conclusion that President Megawati Soekarnoputri, Vice
\nPresident Hamzah Haz, People's Consultative Assembly Chairman
\nAmien Rais, and House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung
\nwere unfit to retain power.<\/p>\n
\"The political parties should be responsive to the needs and
\nwishes of the public. They have to seek a new national leader
\nqualified to run the country in 2004,\" Marwah said, commenting on
\nthe surveys.<\/p>\n
Mochtar Buchori, a legislator of Megawati's Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), the largest
\nfaction in the House, concurred.<\/p>\n
\"We need a future leader from outside the political elite, who
\ncan win the people's trust, has a good vision and is tested,\"
\nsaid Mochtar, one of the staunchest critics of Megawati.<\/p>\n
However, fellow legislator, deputy PDI Perjuangan secretary-
\ngeneral Pramono Anung Wibowo, said his party had decided to
\nrenominate President Megawati for the 2004-2009 term of office
\ndespite widespread criticism of her competence.<\/p>\n
Under the amended 1945 Constitution, only political parties
\nare authorized to nominate presidential candidates. Any
\nindividual can contest the direct presidential election if they
\nare nominated by a party.<\/p>\n
The election bill, currently being deliberated at the House,
\nalso banned independent and non-partisan candidates from vying
\nfor the presidential post.<\/p>\n
Prominent Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid, Yogyakarta
\nGovernor Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, and Muhammadiyah chairman
\nAhmad Syafii Maarif have been touted by many as presidential
\nhopefuls in 2004.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/parties-told-to-seek-new-figures-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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