PPP congress haggles over electoral board<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Delegates to the congress of the United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP) last night began deliberating the
\nformation of the seven-member electoral board that will select
\nthe new party leadership today.<\/p>\n
Representatives from the 27 provincial party chapters and 300
\nregency branches were asked to propose seven names. The board
\nmembers are those who obtain the most votes.<\/p>\n
Congress officials are expected to announce the composition of
\nthe so called "formatters", which usually consists of senior
\nparty figures, early today.<\/p>\n
The composition of the seven-member electoral board dominated
\nthe discussion on the sidelines of the congress, held at the
\nPondok Gede Haj Dormitory, where participants spent their day
\nfinalizing documents on future party programs behind closed
\ndoors.<\/p>\n
There was much furious activity as power brokers were busy
\nlobbying support for their candidates and security officers were
\non heightened alert in anticipation of any trouble.<\/p>\n
Ismail Hasan Metareum, the incumbent chairman from the
\nMuslimin Indonesia faction and Matori Abdul Djalil, the outgoing
\nsecretary general from Nahdlatul Ulama faction, remained the
\nstrongest candidates. Other chairmanship aspirants, Hamzah Haz
\nand Cholil Badawi were rarely heard.<\/p>\n
Electoral board members were selected by the vote-holding
\ndistrict chapters' representatives.<\/p>\n
Power brokers from the opposing camps were trying to pull as
\nmany vote holders as possible into their fold to pave their
\nnominee's way to the top.<\/p>\n
The tight competition between Matori and Ismail Hasan raised
\nconcern among some participants and observers that they might
\nface the worst case scenario -- a congressional deadlock, which
\nwould inevitably invoke government's intervention.<\/p>\n
Such a standoff occurred in PPP's last congress in 1989 when
\nIsmail Hasan managed to oust his predecessor, H.J. Naro, only
\nwith great difficulty. The subsequent government's intervention
\nresulted in the disappearance of outspoken politicians on the
\noriginal list of new leadership.<\/p>\n
Although PPP formally shunned government's meddling in its
\ninternal affairs, board members always consult their choices with
\ngovernment officials, usually the Minister of Home Affairs, for
\nendorsement.<\/p>\n
Upper hand<\/p>\n
If things go as planned, the names of the new PPP's executive
\nboard will be announced before the congress is closed by Vice
\nPresident Try Sutrisno at 19.30 p.m. today.<\/p>\n
In Monday's session, Ismail Hasan got the upper hand with
\nsupport from 17 provincial chapters with Matori only taking two.
\nHowever, observers said the final result will be largely
\ndetermined by the composition of the electoral board.<\/p>\n
Ismail Hasan's camp crowed yesterday that he had backing from
\nnot only the MI faction but also from Syarikat Islam and NU,
\nmaking his chances of retaining his post almost certain.<\/p>\n
In his bid to galvanized popular support, he met with
\nrepresentatives from various provinces yesterday.<\/p>\n
In the latest development, H.M. Dault, a lawyer-turned
\npolitician, dropped his ambition to enter the party chairmanship
\nrace and lent his support to Matori.<\/p>\n
"I'm optimistic Matori will emerge as the winner because he
\nhas support from at least 250 branches," he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Matori's claim that he had the endorsement from
\nIdham Khalid, an influential NU ulema now a member of the Supreme
\nAdvisory Council, backfired.<\/p>\n
Idham reportedly denied the claim and Matori, whose strongest
\nsupport came from ulemas, became a laughing stock among his
\npolitical foes.(par\/pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ppp-congress-haggles-over-electoral-board-1447893297",
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