Golkar presidential candidates

Golkar presidential candidates

A hot issue to be discussed at the Golkar Party leadership
meeting, scheduled to be opened on April 29, 2003, is the
selection of presidential candidates.

Those who are nominated by Golkar will, by all means, become
serious rivals for other party candidates, including Megawati
Soekarnoputri, who is nominated by her Indonesian Democratic of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).

This assumption could prove false if PDI Perjuangan decides to
join hands with Golkar and share presidential and vice
presidential candidates.

As is publicly known, Golkar Chairman Akbar Tandjung is now in
a very serious position with regard to a corruption case, in
which he has been convicted. It would therefore be proper for
Golkar to seek other candidates who might benefit the party. At
the same time, Golkar should find itself a new leader as soon as
possible to save itself from further political embarrassment.

Thus, the Golkar leadership meeting will discuss, among other
things, the party's convention to seek presidential candidates.

The meeting is also supposed to include preparations for its
plenary session scheduled for May 2004.

One of the serious problems to be discussed in the 2004
convention will be agreement on the number of presidential and
vice presidential candidates. Golkar is apparently divided into
camps or groups, each with its own interests. All the groups
welcome the opportunity for Akbar to throw his hat into the race
for the presidency.

We are of the opinion if Golkar persists in its efforts to
nominate Akbar, it will have made another blunder. Golkar will
have lost the strategic opportunity it has to find a credible
pair of candidates with public support.

-- Koran Tempo, Jakarta