Golkar opts wait-and-see on President

Golkar opts wait-and-see on President

JAKARTA (JP): The Golkar Party has decided to leave all
decisions concerning the coming People's Consultative Assembly
special session up to the prerogative of the central executive,
including undertaking any necessary political maneuvers needed.

In an attempt to keep all possibilities open during the
Assembly special session, the party's one-day national working
meeting failed on Wednesday to draft a clear stance for the party
concerning the President's accountability and his possible
removal from office.

"Everything concerning substantial matters over the
President's accountability in the coming session will be in the
hands of the central executive board," party chairman Akbar
Tandjung said.

He added that in such circumstances the board would be given
the leeway to respond according to the situation.

"All branches across the country will support the decisions
taken by the central executive board through it chairman," Akbar
said during a media briefing.

However, he said that during the meeting it was clear that all
party branches supported the convening of the coming special
session and would also support a hastened session should the
President's actions endanger the stability of the nation.

When asked about a possible vice presidential candidate or a
power-sharing scheme, Akbar simply replied that it would be
further discussed and decided by the executive board.

Abdurrahman faces possible removal from office should his
accountability in the special session, slated for Aug. 1, be
rejected by the Assembly.

Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who is also the
chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan), would be appointed president should that outcome
arise.

While the convening of a special session looks unavoidable,
the momentum for a political compromise has been rising over the
past two weeks.

Reports have been trickling in that Akbar and United
Development Party chairman Hamzah Haz may be engaged in a
political negotiation with the President's aides.

Golkar has refused to officially commit itself, either by
throwing down the gauntlet to the President or adopting a clear
stance in support of Abdurrahman's presidential survival by
engaging in a power-sharing scheme.

During the one-day meeting, a plethora of political views
emerged from branch representatives, from a political compromise
to talk about a potential vice presidential candidate.

Most of the 30 branches urged Akbar to take the vice
presidential candidacy, noting that it was time for the former
ruling party to return to state leadership.

However, representatives from West Kalimantan, Southeast
Sulawesi and West Java left the matter up to the central
executive board to decide.

The East Java branch, on the other hand, continued to urge for
a political compromise to end the current stalemate.

Banten and Jakarta chose to look further down the road and
instead suggested that Golkar prioritize the party's
consolidation and focus on the general election in 2004.

The Banten branch suggested that incumbent chairman Akbar
Tandjung run for presidency in 2004, when they said there would
be enough water under the bridge for the party to gain sufficient
public acceptance.

The Jakarta branch also underlined that the party had to deal
with its tarnished image of being the ruling party for 32
years.(dja)