Golkar Party's next convention may see internal contention

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The next phase of the Golkar Party's series of conventions to select a presidential candidate looks to become a stage to test the influence of the rivals of party leader Akbar Tandjung.

The final convention scheduled for April 20 may see heated debate as some regency chapters plan to propose a revision of the rules to improve the chances of Akbar's rivals in winning the nomination.

But an analyst here said the reputation Akbar earned in leading the party in the difficult days following the fall of its former patron Soeharto would see him through to the candidacy.

Usman Hasan, the head of the nomination team for Surya Paloh, one of Akbar's rivals, said on Wednesday his team would help party chapters propose that the convention become a two-round election, in order to help the eventual nominee get "convincing support".

One of Golkar's six presidential hopefuls will win the convention if he can secure a simple majority from a total of 564 votes. Of this figure, regency chapters, which will be represented by their leaders, will have a combined 440 votes.

The six candidates are Golkar leader Akbar Tandjung, former military chief Gen. (ret) Wiranto, media baron Surya Paloh, former Army Strategic Reserves commander Lt. Gen. (ret) Prabowo Subianto, businessman Aburizal Bakrie and Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla.

"Proposal for a revision can be floated during the deliberation of the rules before the six presidential hopefuls explain their programs," Usman said.

The series of conventions began in May last year when Akbar Tandjung was still facing charges of embezzling some Rp 40 billion in state funds. He was convicted of the charge by the lower courts but the Supreme Court overturned the conviction in February, clearing the way for Akbar to run for president.

Golkar was originally to name its presidential candidate last February, but a preconvention meeting last October agreed to delay the process until after the April 5 legislative election.

The delay was seen as an effort to buy time for Akbar's case to be heard by the Supreme Court.

Observers say Akbar's main contenders for the nomination are Wiranto and Surya Paloh, who have intensified efforts to block Akbar by organizing meetings with leaders of several of the party's regency chapters. These meetings have been criticized by Golkar officials, who cited fear of "money politics".

Representatives of the Wiranto and Surya camps acknowledged organizing the meetings but denied any money politics.

Should the two-round convention be endorsed, it would provide likely either Wiranto or Surya another chance to challenge Akbar in a second round of voting.

Meanwhile, political analyst Bachtiar Effendy said the leaders of Golkar's regency chapters would likely vote for candidates who had shown their dedication to the party.

And Akbar, he said, still looks the favorite because he is seen as having built and consolidated the party during the difficult times after the fall of the New Order regime.