Golkar accepts poll results, commends PDI Perjuangan win

JAKARTA (JP): Long-time ruling party Golkar put on a brave face in its first ever defeat in the general election by congratulating on Friday poll winner, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).

Speaking at a media conference following completion of the national vote count by the National Elections Commission (PPI), Golkar Party chairman Akbar Tandjung said the party accepted the results. He paid tribute to parties which drew popular support, particularly PDI Perjuangan, Antara reported.

"We officially congratulate the parties which have received the people's trust to represent them in the House of Representatives, following results of the 1999 elections.

"To the winner, in this case PDI Perjuangan, on behalf of Golkar Party's board of executives we congratulate (them) for gaining the most number of seats," he said.

PDI Perjuangan topped the tally with 38 million votes and a projected 154 House seats. Golkar came a distant second with 23.67 million ballots, but closed the gap with the poll winner in the race for House seats with 120.

Of the 48 parties which contested the June 7 polls, only 15 have clinched House seats so far.

Golkar won convincingly in each of the six elections held from 1971 onward under former president Soeharto's New Order regime.

Chairwoman of PDI Perjuangan Megawati Soekarnoputri maintained her calm despite the victory. She refused to respond to the announcement of the results, to the disappointment of some 20 journalists who waited for her for five hours at the party's office in Lenteng Agung, South Jakarta.

The party's secretary-general Alex Litaay was also not available for comment. A party staff member said Alex and all PDI Perjuangan executives were busy preparing for a leadership meeting scheduled to commence on Sunday.

Separately, the United Development Party (PPP) refrained from acknowledging PDI Perjuangan's triumph, saying the results had not been validated by the General Elections Commission (KPU).

"We will congratulate the winner at the right moment," PPP deputy chairman Zein Badjeber said.

He said the party would not object to the poll results, mainly because the elections were run in a far better manner than those in the past.

"But our acceptance should be exchanged with efforts from all related institutions to settle all violations to election rules," Badjeber said.

The KPU is expected to announce the official vote tally on July 25, following settlements of violation reports.

Now that the parties are heading for the General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), Akbar said Golkar had called for a meeting of the big parties to discuss possible obstacles during the convention.

He said the meeting could also serve as an early preparation for the State Policy Broad Guidelines and other crucial matters, including amendments to the 1945 Constitution and the presidential nomination.

A National Awakening Party (PKB) executive, Khofifah Indar Parawansa, said the party would focus on (preparing inputs for) the state guidelines and several MPR decrees which needed amending.

Speaking in a seminar of gender held by Nahdlatul Ulama Muslim organization in Purwokerto, Central Java, Khofifah said among decrees which should be changed was on that awards former president Soeharto the Father of Development title.

She said the party had assigned five executives including chairman Matori Abdul Jalil, Alwi Shihab and Muhaimin Iskandar to discuss coalitions. The definite partner in a coalition so far is PDI Perjuangan, she said.(45/imn/amd)