There must be more than one VP candidate: Academician<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Political scientist Maswadi Rauf of the
\nUniversity of Indonesia has suggested that the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR) and the elected president offer more
\nthan one vice presidential candidate, but asked them to show
\nwisdom in choosing the right person.<\/p>\n
\"That's what the consultative meeting between the Assembly and
\nthe elected president is for. None of the parties should use
\nforce during the consultation,\" Maswadi said in a discussion
\nSaturday.<\/p>\n
He said the current procedures to elect a vice president did
\nnot need changing because so far the Assembly and the elected
\npresident have managed to accommodate each other.<\/p>\n
\"The elected president must be flexible and accommodate the
\nMPR, while MPR members must also be flexible. Their statesmanship
\nwill be tested here,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Of course, the president must be able to cooperate with the
\nvice president... in the future we can consider a package system
\nwhere the MPR is expected to nominate both a president and vice
\npresident at one time,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Under the current system, the People's Consultative Assembly
\nelects a president, who is then expected to choose a vice
\npresident on consultation with the Assembly.<\/p>\n
It has been a foregone conclusion that President Soeharto will
\nbe renominated and eventually reelected for another term of
\noffice. Speculation is now on who will be the next vice
\npresident.<\/p>\n
Among those who have been mentioned as suitable 1998\/2003 vice
\npresident material are incumbent Vice President Try Sutrisno,
\nState Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie, State
\nMinister of National Development Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita
\nand Minister of Defense Edi Sudradjat.<\/p>\n
Some people have suggested that the Assembly offer more than
\none vice presidential candidate, and that they be elected by
\nvoting.<\/p>\n
No voting<\/p>\n
On Friday, however, Armed Forces (ABRI) Chief of
\nSociopolitical Affairs Lt. Gen. M. Yunus Yosfiah said voting
\nshould not be used in next year's vice presidential election.<\/p>\n
Instead, the people's representatives should elect the vice
\npresident by deliberation to reach consensus on only one name.<\/p>\n
\"I hope there will be no voting, although it is lawful, in the
\nvice presidential election,\" he said after opening a
\nSociopolitical Course for ABRI officers at the Armed Forces Staff
\nand Command School in Bandung, West Java.<\/p>\n
\"Our political system prefers consensus to voting in reaching
\nan agreement,\" he was quoted by Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
He said voting should only be used when it is \"crucial\".<\/p>\n
Former vice president and current chairman of the presidential
\nadvisory team on state ideology Pancasila propagation (BP-7),
\nSudharmono, said Thursday that voting should be considered an
\nalternative if the Assembly had more than one name each for the
\npresidency and vice presidency.<\/p>\n
Yunus, who is also chairman of the Armed Forces faction at the
\nAssembly, said he believed all factions would prefer to establish
\nconsensus in the election. He also promised to do his best to
\npersuade the other factions in the Assembly to agree on only one
\nname.<\/p>\n
\"I have talked to leaders of other MPR factions and there is a
\ntendency that they will elect the vice president through
\nconsensus.\" He said this was because \"they are now more
\npolitically mature\".<\/p>\n
\"You can see that there has been no 'walk-outs' in the MPR
\nmeeting sessions. They (legislators) are now more accommodating
\nand communicative,\" said the three-star general.<\/p>\n
He also said the Armed Fores headquarters had received
\nletters, from individuals and groups, showing their support for
\ncertain candidates. (prb\/amd\/imn)<\/p>",
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