Golkar outlines plans for local elections

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.