Golkar outlines plans for local elections

The Jakarta Post Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan

Golkar Party leader Jusuf Kalla told party members that building a good reputation and offering programs to help the people were crucial to the party's success in upcoming regional elections.

Speaking before an estimated 1,500 Golkar members and supporters here on Saturday, Kalla, who is also the country's Vice President, said the regional elections in June would be different from past polls because this time people would directly elect their local leaders. He said this meant Golkar could no longer rely on political deals with other parties to help its candidates win election.

"Our main strategy for winning local elections is to nominate saleable candidates with good track records, strong leadership skills and concrete programs that benefit as many people as possible," said Kalla.

He said this strategy worked during the 2004 legislative election, in which Golkar won the most seats in the House of Representatives.

Kalla said the fact that Golkar, the political machine of former authoritarian president Soeharto, had remained solid when other major political parties were battling internal conflicts would help Golkar candidates running in local elections.

"Unlike other major parties that are burdened with internal conflicts, Golkar has remained solid. We must maintain this, especially during the campaign season and voting day. Golkar must win the most top posts in local administrations to maintain the people's confidence and to prepare the party for the 2009 general election," he said.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the United Development Party (PPP) and the National Awakening Party (PKB) have all faced nasty internal splits that many observers believe have weakened the parties.

During the meeting on Saturday, Kalla officially nominated Gusti Iskandar and Hafiz Ariansyah as Golkar's gubernatorial and vice gubernatorial candidates respectively for South Kalimantan. He also nominated seven regent and mayoral candidates for the province.

Over the last two months, Kalla has traveled to several provinces, regencies and mayoralties officially to nominate the party's candidates for local elections.

Golkar candidates will contest seven gubernatorial elections and 163 regent and mayoral elections in June.

He also asked local General Elections Commissions (KPUDs) to take action against any Golkar candidates who violated local election rules, saying all parties and their candidates must be treated equally.

"Golkar and other political parties are not allowed to ask senior government officials to force civil servants to vote for specific candidates. The KPUDs should not hesitate to take action against (such violations)," he said.

He added that in accordance with the law, civil servants and security personnel must remain politically neutrality to ensure fair elections.