Eros vows to challenge Megawati again

Eros vows to challenge Megawati again

KARANGANYAR, Central Java (JP): Outspoken politician Eros
Djarot has continued his fight against the renomination of
incumbent Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) chief Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Eros, the former chief editor of DeTik magazine, renewed his
challenge on Sunday by calling for party members not to vote for
Megawati in order to pave her way for the presidency.

Speaking at a seminar, he suggested that Megawati, who is also
the vice president, be given a place in the party's consultative
board as her duties there would be less demanding.

Megawati, he said, should be given a chance to concentrate on
her current vice presidential job, because her future political
career would depend much on her performance as vice president.

The party is due to hold its congress in the provincial
capital Semarang from March 26 to March 31. The election of the
party chief will be the highlight of the event.

If reelected, Megawati will join Amien Rais and Akbar Tandjung
as a high state officials who keep party top posts. Amien, who is
the People's Consultative Assembly speaker, won his second
successive term as the National Mandate Party chief earlier this
month, while House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung
chairs the Golkar Party.

Eros, who has repeatedly expressed his readiness to replace
Megawati as the party's chairman, reiterated that his open
criticism was aimed at strengthening and politically educating
the party's supporters.

He said, however, that his persistent challenges had been
suspected by "a number of elites" within the party as a move to
undermine Megawati's leadership.

The criticism has sparked rumors of a rift within the party,
which won the most votes in last year's general election.

However, party deputy chairman Theo Syafe'i discounted the
talk of a rift on Sunday, saying the emergence of alternative
candidates to Megawati for party chief was welcomed.

Meanwhile, Mardijo, chairman of the party's chapter in Central
Java, said the support for Megawati's reelection in the province
was strong. (har/byg)