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)