Bottom-up convention and spirit

Bottom-up convention and spirit

For a number of political parties, their presidential candidates are no longer shrouded in mystery.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) for instance, is obviously renominating Megawati Soekarnoputri, who has no other rival within the party.

The question of the National Mandate Party's (PAN) presidential candidate has also been answered -- none other than its chairman, Amien Rais.

How about the Nation's Awakening Party (PKB)? Its chairman, Abdurrahman Wahid, is rumored to have the ambition to become president again.

As for the United Development Party (PPP), its chairman, Hamzah Haz, would surely be nominated.

However, Golkar Party's presidential candidate until now is unknown.

Through a recent convention, the party made a breakthrough by netting its possible presidential candidates from the bottom.

As a result, seven names have emerged -- Surya Paloh, Wiranto, Aburizal Barkrie, Akbar Tandjung, Jusuf Kalla, Prabowo Subianto, and Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X. Who among them would be the party's final candidate however remains a big question.

Thus before it is too late, the political elite should change its orientation by keeping the bottom-up spirit rather than the top-down one. -- Media Indonesia, Jakarta