Voting sought in the election of national leaders<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A fresh call was lodged yesterday for the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly (MPR) to introduce voting in the
\npresidential and vice presidential elections.<\/p>\n
Senior politician Jaelani Naro said yesterday that voting was
\nthe purest method for the election of national leaders according
\nto the 1945 Constitution.<\/p>\n
\"After failing to execute the stipulation for many years under
\nthe New Order, we now need to educate people. Why should we wait
\nto see the Assembly vote for a president and vice president?\"
\nsaid Naro who chaired the United Development Party from 1983 to
\n1988.<\/p>\n
He said the practice could apply even if there was only one
\ncandidate for each post.<\/p>\n
\"Voting has traditionally been used to elect heads of villages
\nand subdistricts, regents and governors. Don't be afraid of blank
\nballots if it applies in the presidential election,\" said Naro.<\/p>\n
The 1,000-member Assembly will elect a president on March 9
\nand a vice president two days later.<\/p>\n
Incumbent President Soeharto looks certain to serve another
\nfive-year term due to support from four out of the five factions
\nin the Assembly. In contrast, the race for the vice presidency
\nremains wide open.<\/p>\n
In the past, the Assembly resolved to reach agreement on the
\nnational leadership duo, rather than cast ballots. The Assembly
\ninternal rule provides procedures for voting in case the five
\nfactions come to a deadlock.<\/p>\n
A 1973 Assembly decree, which currently remains effective,
\nstipulates that the vice president must be able to cooperate with
\nthe president.<\/p>\n
By convention, a vice president is chosen after consultation
\nwith the elected president, which gives Soeharto the prerogative
\nto choose his second in command.<\/p>\n
Naro in 1988 tried to break the routine when he challenged the
\nwidely supported vice presidential candidate Sudharmono, but to
\nno avail. Mounting pressure forced Naro to withdraw his bid.<\/p>\n
Recalling his aborted campaign, Naro said yesterday that
\ndemocracy had progressed a long way in the past 10 years, evident
\nby the number of people who had the courage to stand in the vice
\npresidential election.<\/p>\n
\"It's an encouraging development, although some of the
\ncandidates look reluctant to openly declare their candidacy,\"
\nNaro said.<\/p>\n
Former minister of environment and coordinating minister for
\neconomy, trade and finance Emil Salim was the last to announce
\nhis willingness to join the race for the second top post.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, the widow of former House Speaker Amir Machmud,
\nSrie Amir Machmud, said she would gather support for the
\nnomination of former Governor of Bank Indonesia Arifin Siregar.<\/p>\n
The Assembly has so far received 14 motions on the vice
\npresidential candidates from the public.<\/p>\n
The nominees include incumbent Vice President Try Sutrisno,
\nMinister of Information R. Hartono, State Minister of Research
\nand Technology B.J. Habibie, State Minister of National
\nDevelopment Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita and Army Chief of
\nStaff Gen. Wiranto. (amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/voting-sought-in-the-election-of-national-leaders-1447893297",
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