Golkar considers withdrawing from race for MPR leadership
Golkar considers withdrawing from race for MPR leadership
Kurniawan Hari and Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Golkar Party is considering withdrawing from the race for the
deputy People's Consultative Assembly speaker's post in an
attempt to boost the chances of Sutjipto of the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) in the vote.
Golkar and the PDI-P, which are grouped under the Nationhood
Coalition, said earlier they would nominate Sutjipto and Golkar's
Theo L. Sambuaga for the positions of Assembly speaker and deputy
speaker respectively.
The coalition is likely to offer nominations for two other
deputy Assembly speaker posts to Regional Representatives Council
(DPD) members to gain more support.
Because Golkar needs to garner votes from other parties to win
the Assembly speaker's post, members are considering Khofifah
Indar Parawansa of the National Awakening Party (PKB) in place of
Theo.
"Golkar will possibly drop its candidate in an attempt to lure
support from the PKB and give Sutjipto a better chance. Our plan
will be discussed further by the coalition," Golkar executive
Akil Mochtar said after a meeting to deliberate the revision of
Assembly standing orders on Monday.
The Nationhood Coalition effectively controled the election
for the House of Representatives speaker and deputy speakers on
Friday.
With the backing of Golkar, the PDI-P, the Prosperous Peace
Party (PDS), the Reform Star Party (PBR), and the PKB, Golkar
deputy chairman Agung Laksono was elected House Speaker and PDI-
P's Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno and PKB's Muhaimin Iskandar the
deputy speakers. Agung collected 280 votes to beat Endin Sofihara
of the United Development Party (PPP), one of the four Nationhood
Coalition signatories, who garnered 257 votes.
The coalition was formed in August to support Megawati
Soekarnoputri in the final round of the presidential election.
Golkar leader Akbar Tandjung later said the PPP had been
kicked out of the coalition because of its "mutiny" -- its
decision to nominate Endin.
PKB executive Erman Suparno said on Monday both the Nationhood
Coalition members and their rivals had sought support from his
party.
"The Nationhood Coalition will nominate Khofifah while the
opposing camp will nominate Yusuf Muhammad. However, we want to
nominate only one person," Erman said on Monday.
Separately, PPP chairman Hamzah Haz denied reports his party
had broken away from the coalition. He said the PPP faction at
the House had insisted from the outset on the nomination of a
PDI-P legislator for the speaker's post.
"For the sake of consistency, we opted to go our own way. We
know the consequences of our decision," said Hamzah, who is the
outgoing vice president.
He said the party was waiting for an official response from
other coalition members.
At the Assembly session, an ad hoc committee meeting failed on
Monday to reach a consensus on the composition of the Assembly
leaders, leaving two alternatives to be voted upon.
Citing equality reasons, the 128-member Regional
Representatives Council (DPD) insisted the standing orders must
clearly stipulate that the House and the Council are allocated
two seats each in the Assembly leadership.
The DPD is supported by, among others, the National Mandate
Party (PAN) and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).
The PPP-less Nationhood Coalition rejected the proposal,
saying it would reduce the rights of legislators.
The contentious issue has prompted the lawmakers to extend
their plenary meeting to Tuesday.
Assembly deputy secretary general Eddie Siregar, however, said
the extension would not affect the budget.
"We have allocated budget until Oct. 6. Should the plenary
session last until after that day, we will discuss it," Eddie
said.
According to Eddie, the secretariat had allocated Rp 33.51
billion for the session, including Rp 8.38 billion for Assembly
members' accommodation.
The first plenary session on Oct. 1 was funded by the General
Elections Commission.