Are Megawati's chances fading?
Are Megawati's chances fading?
A new idea has been suggested to the Indonesian public, this
time by Amien Rais. The National Mandate Party (PAN) chairman
suggested forming a "center axis", with himself and (National
Awakening Party founder) Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid as the
motivating forces. It is meant to act as an alternative force in
the contest between the two presidential candidates, Megawati
Soekarnoputri and B.J. Habibie.
The question is why this sudden emergence of the "center
axis", otherwise known as a new "Reform Faction"? Has Gus Dur
begun to distance himself from Megawati? Or is this Reform
Faction an answer to the earlier published idea of having an
Islamic Faction? Or could it be meant as a correction of those
earlier plans because of the awareness that, as far as is
possible, religion should not be brought into formal politics?
Many answers are possible because there are many
possibilities. It could be that Gus Dur has once again entered
into an accord with Amien Rais because he is finding it difficult
to talk to Megawati -- who, perceiving herself to be the winner
(in the recent general election), feels no need to enter into
mutually supportive arrangement. Or it could be that Gus Dur is
finding it easier to talk to Amien Rais because of their shared
sense of being among the losers.
Megawati's chances (of being elected president) will continue
to fade unless her party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), takes immediate steps toward
initiating an alliance. Her chances are as good as dead if the
formation of this center axis can be taken to mean a negation of
PKB's support for PDI Perjuangan.
As someone who is beginning to show an adeptness in politics,
Amien Rais, meanwhile, is keeping his own chances alive by
allying himself with Gus Dur. It's a pity he has done so too
late. Had the Amien-Gus Dur duo been forged long before the
general election, the results of the (June 7) ballot could have
been different.
-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta