Changing political map

Changing political map

We predicted that Golkar Party chairman Akbar Tandjung and Gen. (ret) Wiranto would dominate the party's presidential convention, and that Akbar would eventually be selected as Golkar's presidential candidate.

This prediction, however, turned out to be misplaced after Wiranto was selected as the party's presidential candidate, following two rounds of balloting in the convention, which saw Akbar securing 147 and 137 votes in the first and second rounds respectively, and Wiranto winning 137 and 315 votes.

Indonesian Military commander Gen. Endriartono Sutarto's rejection of Akbar's offer to the general to become his running mate affected the convention's outcome.

Wiranto emerged victorious from the convention due to his strategy. He built up a network of supporters in different towns and cities. The allegations that Wiranto was involved in human rights abuses have continued to lessen, thanks to the United States giving priority to Iraq and Indonesia's problems as regards security, unemployment and leadership.

The emergence of Wiranto as Golkar's presidential candidate has changed the face of the presidential election on July 5. The other presidential candidate with a military background is the Democratic Party's Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is very popular.

It will not, however, only be Wiranto and Susilo in the race for the presidency. There is also National Mandate Party (PAN) leader Amien Rais, and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) leader Megawati Soekarnoputri.

People will likely focus their attention on the competition between Susilo and Wiranto. If they fail to perform well during the presidential election campaign, the public's attention might switch to either Megawati or Amien.

This daily believes that during the presidential race, political and security issues will be focused on by the public, as well as the issues of leadership and the economy. -- Kompas, Jakarta