Golkar picks 40,000 would be legislators for 1997 elections
Golkar picks 40,000 would be legislators for 1997 elections
JAKARTA (JP): Golkar has lined up more than 40,000 people to be nominated as the ruling political grouping's representatives on various legislative councils, said its chairman, Harmoko.
Speaking to the press in Denpasar, Bali, on Saturday, Harmoko said Golkar did not assemble the nominees based on whether they were "liked or disliked", Antara reported.
"They were selected on criteria such as past performances, loyalty, dedication, good conduct and discipline," Harmoko said after attending a gathering of some 13,000 Golkar supporters.
The number will be pared down to 4,250, or 10 times the number of the contested seats at the House of Representatives. Later on, the list will be shortened to 850, Harmoko said.
As Harmoko promised earlier, Golkar will replace 60 percent of its legislators with members of Golkar's younger generation. The remaining 40 percent will be retained to ensure "continuity".
Harmoko said the ages of the new legislators will range from 21 to 60. "We ask those who are over 65 or have served four legislative terms to be big-hearted and willing (to leave)," Harmoko said.
Some top Golkar leaders such as Moestahid Astari, currently Golkar's House faction chairman, Ismael Hassan and Warno Hardjo will not be nominated again for the 1997 general elections.
During the rally, Harmoko also rejected the repeated calls for electoral reform made by the other two political contestants -- the United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).
The existing general election laws are still relevant and need not be changed, he said.
Furthermore, there will not be time to make any changes as the general elections will commence in May with the registration of voters, he pointed out.
Golkar also insisted that the general election be held on a working day, rather than on holidays as the PPP and PDI have requested.
"Casting your vote won't take more than five minutes, then you can return to work. There's no need to declare the day a holiday," Harmoko said.
Besides, Harmoko added, "it's the authority of the President to decide on what day the elections will be held." (swe)