Golkar may cede to demands and delay party election

Golkar may cede to demands and delay party election

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Demands have mounted from Golkar's regional chapters to delay the
election of the party's presidential candidate ahead of its
leadership meeting here from Oct. 17 through Oct. 19.

Although there was no official statement from the party's
board of executives regarding the possible delay, at least two
party leaders Agun Gunandjar Sudarsa and Ibrahim Ambong disclosed
on Thursday that many regional chapters supported the demand.

Agun claimed that 19 provincial chapters had urged for the
postponement of the election of the sole presidential candidate
until after the general election on April 5 next year, two months
behind the original schedule.

But chairman of the leadership meeting organizing committee
Agung Laksono said debate on the possibility of delaying the
national convention was not on the initial agenda of the three-
day event.

"However, we may discuss and take a decision on a proposal to
delay the announcement of the convention results," Agung told a
press conference here on Thursday.

A delay to the national convention is expected to give Golkar
leaders more time to consolidate the party.

Among the topics to be discussed during the leadership meeting
are efforts to improve organizational consolidation as well as
the strategy to win the 2004 elections.

Party chairman Akbar Tandjung said the party had planned to
recruit more members in anticipation of the elections of
legislative members and the president.

"Today, we have seven million members and we plan to double
the number, which will roughly equal 10 percent of the number of
eligible voters in the elections," Akbar said.

To facilitate the plan, Golkar will deploy 1.5 million "well-
trained" cadres in districts and villages throughout the country
to woo public support, particularly first-time voters, Akbar
said.

Akbar asserted that through the leadership meeting, Golkar
would try to win back the hearts and minds of the people.

The reform movement that ousted then president Soeharto and
Golkar chief patron in 1998 also ended the party's domination
when it lost in the 1999 election to President Megawati
Soekarnoputri's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle.

Akbar said the party would also prepare guidelines to replace
its representatives in the legislative bodies.

Meanwhile, convention chairman Slamet Effendi Yusuf said seven
candidates were declared eligible for the preliminary convention
scheduled for Oct. 20 and Oct. 21.

All 30 provincial chapters have reported their convention
results.

The seven nominees are businessman Aburizal Bakrie, former
military chief Gen. (ret) Wiranto, media mogul Surya Paloh,
Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung, Coordinating Minister for
People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla, former chief of Army's Strategic
Reserve (Kostrad) Prabowo Subianto, and Yogyakarta Governor
Hamengkubuwono X.

"Each candidate will be given time to deliver their vision and
mission during the convention," he said.

Both Akbar and Slamet denied claims that the leadership
meeting held before the preliminary convention was designed to
force representatives of regional chapters to vote for certain
candidates.

Akbar said he believed each regional chapter already had its
preference in the convention.

Added Slamet: "The only thing that may change the preference
is the vision and mission delivered by the presidential
candidates during the convention."