Alternate presidential candidates

Following in the footsteps of Dr. Amien Rais, Megawati Soekarnoputri -- in a statement made at her residence in the presence of many, including a number of foreign diplomats -- declared herself ready to be a candidate for the presidency. At the very least, her forthright statement has contributed to a melting of the frozen political culture in which extreme tactfulness is the accepted code of conduct -- a culture in which it is as good as taboo for a citizen to openly express his or her readiness to be a presidential candidate.

Earlier, the National Brotherhood Foundation YKPK, represented by its chairman Lt. Gen. (ret.) Bambang Triantoro, openly asked the House of Representatives/People's Consultative Assembly to accept a figure other than Pak Harto (President Soeharto) as the presidential candidate. This political stance taken by YKPK also contributed to a thaw in the prevailing political culture.

All these developments mark the emergence of a new dimension in our political morality. People's willingness to assume a clear position and attitude within the context of a predominant political culture that provides practically no alternatives, particularly where such an all-important position as that of the presidency is concerned, represents a daring political stance that helps to make the political process of succession more colorful.

We are well aware of what the outcome of this courageous political move toward change initiated by Dr. Amien Rais and Megawati Soekarnoputri is likely to be. What is worth noting, however, is that a shift is taking place in our political culture, marked by a demand for freedom to reveal one's political stance, especially when it concerns a position that is of the greatest importance to the nation and the country. We hope we will have the wisdom to view this political process not merely in the narrow context of the current predominant political culture, but to recognize it as being part of the movement toward change which characterizes this era and which we should accept as a living reality, even while we maintain the commonly agreed-upon political mechanisms and procedures as mandated by the Constitution.

-- Surabaya Post