Golkar aims to win over women to retain majority

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)