Wiranto gets thumbs down for his VP nomination: Experts<\/p>\n
By Novan Imam Santosa<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Observers gave a thumbs down to Golkar's
\nnomination of Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Wiranto as
\na vice presidential candidate, saying he would be more of a
\nliability than an advantage to his running mate.<\/p>\n
They noted that as chief of the military, which is currently
\nfacing a tremendous credibility problem, Wiranto's selection to
\nthe second highest executive post would not breed national or
\ninternational confidence.<\/p>\n
\"Wiranto's nomination will only provide liabilities rather
\nthan advantages to the presidential candidates,\" political
\nanalyst A.S. Hikam told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Hikam argued that the next president and vice president should
\nfocus on repairing the nation's battered economic and political
\nstate. As such, regaining confidence was a fundamental necessity.<\/p>\n
\"We have to acquire international trust by nominating an
\nacceptable person for the vice presidency,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Golkar Party chief Akbar Tanjung has said that he has
\napproached Gen. Wiranto about becoming incumbent B.J. Habibie's
\nrunning mate.<\/p>\n
Akbar said it was Habibie himself who chose Wiranto. However
\nWiranto has not publicly accepted or rejected the nomination.<\/p>\n
Hikam described Habibie's selection as a desperate attempt to
\nwin support from the military which has 38 seats in the People's
\nConsultative Assembly.<\/p>\n
\"Other presidential candidates, Megawati Soekarnoputri and
\nAbdurrahman Wahid, are unlikely to take Wiranto as their vice
\npresident,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Should we have to choose a military personnel for the vice
\npresident, it's better to have someone who is more acceptable to
\nthe international community,\" said Hikam, citing National
\nResilience Institute governor Lt. Gen. Agum Gumelar and TNI Chief
\nof Territorial Affairs Lt. Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as
\nqualified candidates.<\/p>\n
Hikam remarked that the reputation of a vice presidential
\ncandidate should not be linked to high profile cases such as the
\nTrisakti and Semanggi shootings, East Timor or even related to
\nSoeharto.<\/p>\n
He further questioned Wiranto's political prowess, contending
\nthat the TNI chief may only command authority if he maintains his
\ncurrent post.<\/p>\n
Should Gen. Wiranto run or be elected vice president, he would
\nmost likely have to resign his post.<\/p>\n
\"Once he steps down, he no longer has the military power,\" he
\nstated further, referring to widely circulated rumors that
\nWiranto might step down on Oct. 5.<\/p>\n
Political analyst Arbi Sanit supported Hikam's view, saying
\nWiranto's nomination as vice president would create burdens for
\nhis running mate.<\/p>\n
\"Both Habibie and Wiranto each have problems in gaining public
\ntrust,\" Arbi said.<\/p>\n
Each candidate is a burden to the other and they don't have
\nsufficient support from the Indonesian public, he added.<\/p>\n
However, Arbi admitted that Habibie gained some notoriety, at
\nleast in the international forum, by allowing East Timor to hold
\na ballot.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, in Arbi's opinion the Habibie-Wiranto
\ncombination was likely to falter and receive little support from
\nother political elements.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/wiranto-gets-thumbs-down-for-his-vp-nomination-experts-1447893297",
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