Vice presidential candidates wanted<\/p>\n
Now we know that at least five presidential candidates will
\nparticipate in the presidential election on July 5. They are
\nSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono of the Democratic Party, Amien Rais of
\nthe National Mandate Party (PAN), Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid of
\nthe National Awakening Party (PKB), Megawati Soekarnoputri of the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and Wiranto of
\nGolkar.<\/p>\n
However, out of the five candidates only Susilo has declared
\nhis running mate: Jusuf Kalla. The other presidential aspirants
\nare still busy seeking their running mates.<\/p>\n
It is clear that finding a vice president is the most
\ndifficult thing in the country as every politician wants to
\nbecome the president. Amien Rais once said that he wanted a
\nnationalist to run with him, and a real nationalist, according to
\nAmien, is a military man. But he has yet to find the right
\nmilitary man to serve as his running mate.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the PDI-P finds itself in a major dilemma following
\nMegawati's plan to run with Hamzah Haz, her current vice
\npresident and leader of the United Development Party (PPP). The
\nPPP responded to Megawati's plan with a request that Hamzah be
\ninvolved in deciding the line-up of the (new) cabinet.<\/p>\n
As for the PKB camp, a vice presidential candidate has yet to
\nemerge as Gus Dur's candidacy could be thwarted by the health
\nrequirements set by the General Elections Commission (KPU) and
\nthe Indonesian Doctors Association. Meanwhile, Golkar is waiting
\nfor an official statement from its headquarters on its vice
\npresidential candidate.<\/p>\n
It is obvious that political coalitions among the parties will
\nbe the best way of securing vice presidential candidates.
\nCoalitions in a multiparty system like ours are a must. But we
\nneed political coalitions that benefit the nation, because a
\ncoalition -- by definition -- is supposed to accommodate
\nplurality as part of democratic life.<\/p>\n
-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/vice-presidential-candidates-wanted-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }