Political parties battle for VP post<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): After a strong show of unity in unseating
\nAbdurrahman Wahid from the presidency, political party factions
\nwere back to their usual selves on Tuesday, fighting off each
\nother for the vice presidential seat, with Akbar Tandjung, Hamzah
\nHaz and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono emerging as the leading
\ncandidates.<\/p>\n
A seething war of words brewed between the Golkar Party and
\nthe United Development Party (PPP).<\/p>\n
In theory, based on the number of seats held by the two major
\nfactions, Akbar and Hamzah have emerged as the two strongest
\ncandidates for the post left vacant by Megawati Soekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
However, the mounting friction between the two political
\nheavyweights could see Susilo, or any other candidate, sneak in
\nto benefit from the split votes at the 700-member People's
\nConsultative Assembly.<\/p>\n
As of 11:30 p.m., only these three names had been officially
\nsubmitted as candidates to the Assembly's secretariat.<\/p>\n
A candidate can be nominated by a faction or after having
\nreceived the signed support of 70 Assembly members.<\/p>\n
An earlier evening session between Assembly leaders agreed to
\nextend the deadline for submitting candidates' names till 2 a.m.
\non Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Akbar has the initial edge, given the large number of seats
\nthat Golkar has in the Assembly.<\/p>\n
The Golkar faction occupies 182 seats, while PPP has 70.
\nHowever, PPP will be counting on the support of its allies in the
\nReform faction that has 49 seats.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Nationhood Faction has 14.<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan (the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle),
\nwith 185 seats, could tilt the balance in the secret, vice
\npresidential ballot due to begin at about 1 p.m. on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The party has remained aloof about its vice presidential
\npreference, saying only that its faction members would be free to
\nchoose by themselves.<\/p>\n
As Assembly Speaker Amien Rais said on Tuesday night, the race
\nremains wide open.<\/p>\n
\"One of the heads of PAN (the National Mandate Party) AM Fatwa
\ntold me it would support Pak Hamzah. So will the Justice Party.
\nBut in a secret ballot there is always the possibility of voters
\nswitching to another side,\" Amien remarked.<\/p>\n
PAN and the Justice Party are members of the Reform faction.<\/p>\n
During Wednesday's vote, a candidate must receive a majority
\nof the ballots cast. If there are more than two candidates, then
\nit will be a runoff till a majority is gained, and the candidate
\nwith the least number of votes eliminated.<\/p>\n
Tuesday was marked by a particularly bitter war of words
\nbetween Golkar and PPP, as each tried to upset the other's
\ncandidate.<\/p>\n
Secretary of the Golkar faction at the Assembly, Yahya Zaini,
\nsaid it had lobbied \"several figures of PDI Perjuangan, including
\nTaufik Kiemas, President Megawati Soekarnoputri's husband.\"<\/p>\n
He added that similar approaches to the Indonesian Military
\n(TNI)\/National Police faction, which has 38 votes, had also been
\nmade.<\/p>\n
PPP was focusing its lobby on the so-named Axis Force
\nand PDI Perjuangan.<\/p>\n
\"The Axis Force has around 140 supporters in the Assembly and
\nwe also expect to win some support from PDI Perjuangan and other
\nminority factions,\" Ali Marwan Hanan, secretary-general of PPP,
\ntold journalists.<\/p>\n
Ali lauded Hamzah as a representative of the Muslim community,
\n\"a suitable partner for President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who is
\nknown as a nationalist figure.\"<\/p>\n
\"Should Akbar be elected as vice president, PPP would not join
\nMegawati's administration,\" Ali contended, while stressing that
\nPPP had not been allotted a major position in high state
\ninstitutions.<\/p>\n
Susilo has remained largely silent on his candidacy. On
\nTuesday morning Susilo did meet privately with Megawati; however,
\nhe maintained that it was merely a courtesy call.<\/p>\n
Two factions to watch will be the TNI\/Police and PDI
\nPerjuangan.<\/p>\n
The TNI\/Police faction's Lt. Gen. Hari Sabarno said it would
\nnot nominate a candidate itself, but would likely throw its
\nsupport behind Susilo or current Coordinating Minister Agum
\nGumelar, if other factions nominated them.<\/p>\n
\"TNI has no candidates, but it will support the two retired
\ngenerals if they are nominated by political parties. It is its
\nright to do so,\" he said. (rms\/dja)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/political-parties-battle-for-vp-post-1447893297",
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