Golkar aims to win over women to retain majority

JAKARTA (JP): After months of extensive campaigning for the support of villagers and the poor, including beggars and shoe polishers, Golkar is now targeting women.

Chairman of the ruling political grouping Harmoko said yesterday that Golkar intends to win over women, who make up 52 percent of the total population of 190 million, because they represent a formidable source of support.

"Their potential support must not be ignored," he said.

"The effort to obtain the votes of the great number of women is the responsibility of the women leaders in the grouping," he told the opening of a three-day training session for 264 Golkar female cadres.

Following the completion of the training, he expects the participants, through various programs, to convince other women to support Golkar.

"As prospective voters for the 1997 general elections, those women should be continuously educated, especially by mothers, who are the central figures of the family," he was quoted by Antara as saying.

He did not say whether Golkar will launch special programs to attract women voters. In the most recent election in 1992, 55,074,727 women voted compared with 52,490,925 men.

Harmoko also reiterated Golkar's intention to retain its majority position in the next election.

"(The goal to maintain) a single majority doesn't necessarily mean that we want to dominate. Rather it's a pledge to compete to obtain the majority of votes by means of well-established programs," he said.

Most of the training participants are members of professional organizations.

Golkar has won each of the last five general elections. (swe)