Golkar faces huge challenges

State Minister/Secretary Akbar Tandjung emerged as the new leader of Golkar in its congress over the weekend. Analysts and congress participants agreed that the process of the election was democratic.

We would like to underline this fact because in next year's general election, democratic values will be a prerequisite for any political party to win the people's votes.

In its attempt to transform itself into a more independent party -- away from its traditional support from the Armed Forces and the bureaucracy -- Golkar has expanded its central board members to 138, encompassing a total of 16 departments.

Golkar will obviously face huge challenges ahead, especially in the way it consolidates itself in the new political setting. It will also outline its list of priorities in both short-term and long-term programs.

We would like to emphasize the urgency for Golkar to implement a short-term goal, which is to alleviate the sufferings of the common people in the wake of the economic downturn. Some economists have said that our economic level has been downgraded to the level of the 1960s chaotic period.

Failure in this field would obviously result in a higher crime rate.

-- Suara Karya, Jakarta