Golkar still upbeat on chances

Golkar still upbeat on chances

JAKARTA (JP): A former Golkar patron joined on Wednesday the
chorus of demands for the ruling party to leave the political
stage, saying the act would be a political and moral lesson for
the nation.

But in its latest statement, Golkar, far from showing fear at
the mounting backlash, remained upbeat about winning 40 percent
of the vote in Monday's elections. Such a result would be more
than enough to maintain its long-held grip, given the fact that
48 parties will contest the polls.

Siswono Yudohusodo, twice a Cabinet minister under Soeharto,
said Golkar should give to reformist parties and spend time on
the sideline to consider its past mistakes.

"If I'm asked who will win next week's polls, I wish that
Golkar loses, not because I hate it but because it has led the
nation into adversity," Siswono, who is now a patron of the
Justice and Unity Party (PKP), said.

However, Siswono was against any effort to ban Golkar, saying
that it instead could act as a good opposition to the new
government while in temporary seclusion.

"If the government fails, Golkar, after smarting from its
mistakes, could regain power," Siswono said as quoted by Antara.

Recent polls rated Golkar as an unlikely winner, placing it
behind the likes of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
led by Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Reuters quoted Golkar as saying in a statement that it
expected to win 30 percent of the vote in populous Java and 55
percent in the rest of the country.

"Golkar is still deeply rooted in the hearts of the people
from all walks of life, and the people, especially in the rural
areas, still believe strongly that through Golkar the intended
changes could be achieved," Golkar's statement said. (amd)