Golkar to unveil its presidential candidates

JAKARTA (JP): The dominant political organization Golkar will formally announce its candidates for the next presidency and vice presidency in its leadership meeting this week, chairman Harmoko said yesterday.

Speaking to reporters after attending a mass wedding ceremony for 68 poor couples at the Golkar secretariat in Slipi, West Jakarta, Harmoko said the Golkar central board had drawn up a list of names.

Harmoko did not mention any names for the presidential election next March, but it is unlikely that Golkar will nominate anyone else but the incumbent President Soeharto. A number of party executives, along with leaders of Golkar-affiliate organizations, have over the past few years openly declared support for Soeharto's renomination.

Last August, Moestahid Astari, then chairman of Golkar's faction at the House of Representatives (DPR), said that Golkar would heed the aspirations of its members and voters and name Soeharto as its candidate. Harmoko also suggested the same name would be announced in the upcoming leadership meeting.

The newly inducted 1,000 members of the People's Consultative Assembly will convene next March to elect a president and vice president and establish the State Policy Guidelines.

Earlier yesterday, Golkar's secretary-general Ary Mardjono said the Golkar leadership meeting would begin Thursday and end Saturday.

"The meeting will discuss Golkar's preparation for the MPR general meeting next March, which includes discussion on its draft for the State Policy Guidelines and other MPR decrees," he said.

Golkar has won all six elections held under President Soeharto. Last May in a landslide election victory, Golkar obtained 74.3 percent of the votes, a significant increase from the 68 percent it won in 1992. (imn)