Eros says he is ready to lead PDI-Perjuangan
<p>Eros says he is ready to lead PDI-Perjuangan</p><p> YOGYAKARTA (JP): Eros Djarot, chief editor of weekly tabloid
Detak, asserted his readiness to be nominated chairman of the
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-Perjuangan)
replacing Megawati Soekarnoputri who is now Indonesia's Vice
President.</p><p>The party is set to elect a new chairman when it holds a
congress in Semarang, Central Java, on March 26.</p><p>However, Eros acknowledged that he may not be popular enough
among party supporters, claiming that much of his work was done
behind the scenes in the party's Department of Research and
Development.</p><p>"I will try to introduce myself to PDI-Perjuangan members and
disseminate my vision and mission for the party at the same
time," he told reporters here on Wednesday.</p><p>While he may not be the most well-known figure within the
party, Eros is a man for all seasons having made a name for
himself as a successful music arranger and movie producer.</p><p>He delved into politics after he headed Detik tabloid, which
was then banned by the government in 1994.</p><p>But anyone wanting to take the reigns of PDI-Perjuangan would
have to compete with Megawati's strong charisma, the party's
hallmark for the past few years.</p><p>Eros on Wednesday admitted that most party members still
wanted Megawati to head the party. But he suggested that it would
only burden Megawati as she was already preoccupied with her
duties as Vice President.</p><p>He urged the party to elect a new chairman to articulate
Megawati's thoughts and ideas. He further cited the vice
president's statement that she does not only belong to PDI-
Perjuangan but to the whole nation.</p><p>He suggested that Megawati take up the position of the party's
patron instead.</p><p>Eros warned the party that it could wane if no fresh faces
were brought into the executive.</p><p>Political analyst Cornelis Lay from Gadjah Mada University
concurred as he told The Jakarta Post that PDI-Perjuangan needed
a new figure to brace itself for future challenges.</p><p>Cornelius, who is known as an avid PDI-Perjuangan observer,
expressed his belief that Eros would fit the bill in helping to
modernize the party without losing its origins as a grassroots
party.</p><p>However, he warned of the possibility of internal conflicts in
the party if a new figure like Eros was elected.</p><p>According to Lay, Megawati's charisma and her power to
integrate the party's factions were in large part due to her
heredity as President Soekarno's daughter.</p><p>Cornelius said Soekarno's other children also possessed such
charisma but were unlikely to enter the political fray.</p><p>"Guntur Soekarnoputra was traumatized by practical politics
after being 'cornered' by former president Soeharto's regime,
while Guruh Soekarnoputra seems to have settled in arts and the
cultural field," Cornelius said of Megawati's older and younger
brothers.</p><p>Golkar</p><p> In Jakarta, Golkar Party chief and House of Representatives
Speaker Akbar Tandjung on Wednesday said the party had decided to
move its congress from 2003 to 2001.</p><p>"I agreed to speed it up to 2001 for the sake of party
consolidation," Akbar said.</p><p>He said consolidation is needed so the rescheduling would
accommodate the 2004 general election.</p><p>When asked, he rejected suggestions that the congress was
rescheduled due to certain factions within the party seeking to
topple him.</p><p>"I've visited Golkar branches in the regions; there's no such
move (to replace me)," Akbar claimed.</p><p>When further asked about reports that Golkar advisory member
Muladi, a strong supporter of former President B.J. Habibie,
wanted to replace him, Akbar merely replied: "If Muladi wants to
be Golkar chairman, it's okay."</p><p>Golkar legislator Aly Yahya earlier claimed that Muladi, a
former justice minister, led the movement to topple Akbar, saying
that some Rp 40 billion had been allocated for the internal coup.</p><p>Muladi himself has said that he would sue Yahya for making
such accusations.</p><p>But it is widely known that several Habibie supporters within
the party are upset with Akbar whom they believe only half
heartedly assisted the former president in last October's
elections. (jun/44)</p>
Detak, asserted his readiness to be nominated chairman of the
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-Perjuangan)
replacing Megawati Soekarnoputri who is now Indonesia's Vice
President.</p><p>The party is set to elect a new chairman when it holds a
congress in Semarang, Central Java, on March 26.</p><p>However, Eros acknowledged that he may not be popular enough
among party supporters, claiming that much of his work was done
behind the scenes in the party's Department of Research and
Development.</p><p>"I will try to introduce myself to PDI-Perjuangan members and
disseminate my vision and mission for the party at the same
time," he told reporters here on Wednesday.</p><p>While he may not be the most well-known figure within the
party, Eros is a man for all seasons having made a name for
himself as a successful music arranger and movie producer.</p><p>He delved into politics after he headed Detik tabloid, which
was then banned by the government in 1994.</p><p>But anyone wanting to take the reigns of PDI-Perjuangan would
have to compete with Megawati's strong charisma, the party's
hallmark for the past few years.</p><p>Eros on Wednesday admitted that most party members still
wanted Megawati to head the party. But he suggested that it would
only burden Megawati as she was already preoccupied with her
duties as Vice President.</p><p>He urged the party to elect a new chairman to articulate
Megawati's thoughts and ideas. He further cited the vice
president's statement that she does not only belong to PDI-
Perjuangan but to the whole nation.</p><p>He suggested that Megawati take up the position of the party's
patron instead.</p><p>Eros warned the party that it could wane if no fresh faces
were brought into the executive.</p><p>Political analyst Cornelis Lay from Gadjah Mada University
concurred as he told The Jakarta Post that PDI-Perjuangan needed
a new figure to brace itself for future challenges.</p><p>Cornelius, who is known as an avid PDI-Perjuangan observer,
expressed his belief that Eros would fit the bill in helping to
modernize the party without losing its origins as a grassroots
party.</p><p>However, he warned of the possibility of internal conflicts in
the party if a new figure like Eros was elected.</p><p>According to Lay, Megawati's charisma and her power to
integrate the party's factions were in large part due to her
heredity as President Soekarno's daughter.</p><p>Cornelius said Soekarno's other children also possessed such
charisma but were unlikely to enter the political fray.</p><p>"Guntur Soekarnoputra was traumatized by practical politics
after being 'cornered' by former president Soeharto's regime,
while Guruh Soekarnoputra seems to have settled in arts and the
cultural field," Cornelius said of Megawati's older and younger
brothers.</p><p>Golkar</p><p> In Jakarta, Golkar Party chief and House of Representatives
Speaker Akbar Tandjung on Wednesday said the party had decided to
move its congress from 2003 to 2001.</p><p>"I agreed to speed it up to 2001 for the sake of party
consolidation," Akbar said.</p><p>He said consolidation is needed so the rescheduling would
accommodate the 2004 general election.</p><p>When asked, he rejected suggestions that the congress was
rescheduled due to certain factions within the party seeking to
topple him.</p><p>"I've visited Golkar branches in the regions; there's no such
move (to replace me)," Akbar claimed.</p><p>When further asked about reports that Golkar advisory member
Muladi, a strong supporter of former President B.J. Habibie,
wanted to replace him, Akbar merely replied: "If Muladi wants to
be Golkar chairman, it's okay."</p><p>Golkar legislator Aly Yahya earlier claimed that Muladi, a
former justice minister, led the movement to topple Akbar, saying
that some Rp 40 billion had been allocated for the internal coup.</p><p>Muladi himself has said that he would sue Yahya for making
such accusations.</p><p>But it is widely known that several Habibie supporters within
the party are upset with Akbar whom they believe only half
heartedly assisted the former president in last October's
elections. (jun/44)</p>