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