PPP declare backing for Mega in runoff<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta\/Surabaya<\/p>\n
The Muslim-based United Development Party (PPP) decided on
\nSaturday to throw its support behind President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri and running mate Hasyim Muzadi in the Sept. 20
\nrunoff.<\/p>\n
\"We support the pair, because we believe we can continue to
\ndevelop our established cooperation in the future,\" PPP deputy
\nleader Ali Marwan Hanan said after an executive meeting at the
\nofficial residence of Vice President Hamzah Haz, who is also the
\nparty's leader.<\/p>\n
Megawati, who replaced former president and PPP co-founder
\nAbdurrahman Wahid after his impeachment, had ordered lawmakers of
\nthe Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) -- which she
\nleads -- to support Hamzah's vice presidential nomination by the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly in the 2001 election.<\/p>\n
Ali said the PPP deemed the administration under Megawati and
\nHamzah had succeeded in maintaining security and political
\nstability, as well improving the country's economy.<\/p>\n
He said the party would disseminate its decision among its
\ngrass roots members.<\/p>\n
The July presidential polls, however, clearly showed that
\npolitical parties could not determine their supporters' votes.<\/p>\n
The PPP won 9.24 million votes in the April 5 legislative
\nelection to finish third behind the Golkar Party and Megawati's
\nPDI-P. The party's lackluster effort in the July 5 election,
\nhowever, earned Hamzah and running mate Agum Gumelar only three
\nmillion votes.<\/p>\n
The PPP's official announcement of support is the first by a
\npolitical party that contested the July polls amid lobbying by
\nMegawati and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to form a major coalition
\nahead of the September runoff.<\/p>\n
The Megawati-Hasyim pair and contenders Susilo Bambang
\nYudhoyono and Jusuf Kalla will be facing off in September after
\nthey finished second and first, respectively, in the July
\nelection. Susilo-Kalla garnered 33.57 percent of 118.6 million
\nvalid votes, while Megawati-Hasyim won 26.6 percent.<\/p>\n
Asked about the party's previous opposition to a female
\npresident, Ali replied: \"It's no longer relevant ... to gauge
\npolitical leadership on gender.\"<\/p>\n
Hamzah said the party's decision was also based on its ties to
\nHasyim, chairman of Indonesia's largest organization Nahdlatl
\nUlama (NU) and a former chair of a provincial PPP chapter.<\/p>\n
\"It is now Megawati and me, and hopefully, it will be Megawati
\nand Hasyim next. It is the same (thing). It's like we are
\nentrusting our political machine to Hasyim,\" he said.<\/p>\n
As a consequence of the party's executive decision, Hamzah
\nsaid the party would join forces with the PDI-P to form an
\nopposition group if Megawati lost to Susilo.<\/p>\n
Although no official announcement has been made, Golkar also
\nappears to be moving closer to Megawati, who visited Golkar
\nleader Akbar Tandjung at his official residence on Friday, the
\nthird meeting since the July polls.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, Megawati and Susilo traveled to Surabaya to
\ncontinue their rallying of public support ahead of the September
\nshowdown.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Megawati made an unscheduled visit to influential
\nNU cleric Abdullah Fakih, who is being treated at state-owned Dr.
\nSoetomo Hospital. Abdullah was among the NU clerics who had
\ncalled upon their followers to vote against \"a woman candidate\"
\nin the July election.<\/p>\n
As part of her Surabaya trip, Megawati had lunch with about
\n300 underprivileged children, attended a mass prayer in Kenongo
\nvillage, visited a Muslim boarding school in Sidoarjo regency and
\nmet with editors of the Jawa Pos daily.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Susilo and Kalla presided over a meeting of their
\ncampaign teams overseeing Java, Bali and Nusa Tenggara.<\/p>\n
Earlier in the day, Kalla visited several Muslim boarding
\nschools in three regencies on Madura island, including Natwatul
\nIshaqiyah school in Sampang regency. During his visit, Kalla
\nasked for support from NU members of the island.<\/p>\n
\"I ask for your blessing and support in the upcoming election.
\nI am an NU member who has the experience to lead the country,\"
\nsaid Kalla, who is an advisor in the organization.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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