Amien eyes top post in 2004 elections

Amien eyes top post in 2004 elections

SINGAPORE (Agencies): People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais addressing the News World Asia broadcast industry conference here on Thursday said he is interested in seeking the Indonesian presidency in 2004.

Amien charged that the country's current leader, President Abdurrahman Wahid, has failed "to serve the people and carry out the mandate given to him".

"I do not plot and connive to overthrow the legitimate government," Amien said, "but would consider running in the next election in three years."

Amien said that Abdurrahman is now a lame duck president following the House of Representative's second memorandum of censure against him on April 30.

In a separate interview with the Business Times, Amien further claimed that a special session of the Assembly to impeach Abdurrahman was inevitable and only "a miracle" would save him.

Sketching out a post-impeachment scenario, Amien said Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri would take over as president, but the vice presidency may be left vacant until 2004.

Amien further claimed that several Asian and Western leaders have signaled, without wanting to be seen as interfering, that it would be wise for Abdurrahman to step down.

"If there is a miracle and his accountability speech is accepted, the president will survive. But that possibility is very slim," Amien stated during his three-day visit to Singapore which started on Wednesday.